Robi 

DUO 

anfiHis 


THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


PRESENTED  BY 


Betty  Bell 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://archive.org/details/robinhoodhismerrOOwarr 


Eofatn  J|ooti 


&nb  3|te  Jflerrp  Jfflen 


By 


JflauBe  EaKforU  barren 

Author  of 
"King  Arthur  and  his  Knights" 


Illustrated  by 

iftilo  Winter 


!Hanti   ^tci^allp  &  <£ompanp 

Chicago  New  York 


Copyright,  1014, 
By  Maude  Radford  Warren 


«lje  3Etant»-lWr33aU8   JJree© 


Chicago 


Chapter  Page 

The  Preface 7 

I.  The  Banishment  of  Robin  Hood    .      .     11 
II.  Robin  Hood  and  Little  John    ...     24 

III.  How  Robin  Gained  Two  More  Men  .     37 

IV.  The  Adventure  of  Maid  Marian  .     .     51 
V.  The  Adventures  of  Robin  Hood  and 

Sir  Richard  of  the  Lea   ....     67 
VI.  Further  Adventures  of  Robin  Hood 

and  Sir  Richard  of  the  Lea      .      .     82 
VII.  Robin  Hood  and  the  Curtal  Friar    .     97 
VIII.  Robin  Hood  and  the  Widow's  Three 

Sons 109 

IX.  Robin  Hood  and  the  Potter     .      .      .121 
X.  The  Adventures  of  Little  John  and 

the  Sheriff 137 

XI.  A-Maying 152 

XII.  Robin  Hood  and  the  Stranger      .      .168 

5 


&obm  ?|oob 


Chapter  Page 

XIII.  The  Adventure  of  Robin  Hood    and 

ill  Scarlett  at  Court        .      .      .179 

XIV.  Robin  Hood  on  the  Sea 195 

XV.  Robin  Hood  and  Allen-a-Dale       .      .   209 

XVI.  Robin    Hood's    Adventure    with    the 

King 221 

XVII.  The  Death  op  Robin  Hood  ....  233 

Robin  Hood  Ballads 243 

Suggestions  to  Teachers 286 

The  Glossary 289 


i  His  fflmy  jflten 


HE  following  stories  of  the  adventures  of  Robin 
Hood  and  his  merry  men  are  intended  for  pupils 
le  fifth  and  sixth  grades.  The  writer  has  consulted 
he  available  sources  but  is  under  particular  obli- 
ms  to  Childs's  great  collection  of  ballads.  There 
o  definite  tale  or  ballad  reproduced  in  the  first 
{,  but  it  is  built  on  the  tradition  that  Robin  Hood 
once  the  Earl  of  Huntington,  and  was,  for  no  good 
e,  deprived  of  his  lands  and  title.  The  other 
es  follow  well  authenticated  sources,  but  here  and 
3  strict  proportion  and  accuracy  have  been  neg- 
:d  in  order  that  the  great  outlaw  and  his  men  may 
however  romantically  disguised,  appear  as  thieves 
ruffians.  That  is,  the  emphasis  is  put  on  deeds 
:scue  or  other  such  knightly  prowess,  while  the  rob- 
which  Robin  Hood  did  is  minimized,  and  where 
)pears  it  is  shown  that  it  occurred  in  the  way  of 
•mal  justice  against  a  high-placed  thief  in  order  to 
>re  lawful  property  to  an  unfortunate  knight  who 
been  robbed.  But  such  deviation  from  the  original 
ces  does  not  destroy  the  general  effect  of  the  robust 

(7) 


£ol)tn  l)oob 


doings  of  the  outlaw  and  his  followers.  An  effort  has 
been  made  to  discriminate  among  the  main  characters 
in  order  that  the  readers  may  receive  a  well-defined 
impression  of  each,  and  may  mark  the  relation  between 
the  action  and  the  characters. 

It  has  been  the  writer's  object  to  preserve,  so  far  as 
might  be,  the  spirit  of  the  greenwood  —  of  the  ancient 
Sherwood  Forest.  In  this  regard,  the  old-time  songs 
with  their  quaint  music,  and  the  Robin  Hood  ballads 
in  the  appendix,  will  assist  the  text.  The  virtues  of 
courage,  forbearance,  gentleness,  courtesy,  justice, 
and  championship  which  go  so  well  with  an  outdoor 
background  are  illustrated  in  the  deeds  of  Robin  Hood 
and  his  followers.  In  order  that  the  resemblances 
as  well  as  the  differences  between  life  in  the  forest  and 
in  the  court  may  be  brought  out,  an  account  has  been 
given,  through  the  description  of  life  in  the  castle  of 
Maid  Marian's  father,  of  some  of  the  customs  and 
conventions  of  chivalry;  it  will  be  seen  that  each  type 
of  life  gives  scope  for  practice  of  both  the  bold  and  the 
gentle  virtues.  Contact  with  the  old  chivalric  ideals 
is  of  value  to  children  living  in  a  democratic  age  which 
is  still  feeling  after  its  own  conventions,  hampered, 
it  may  be,  by  uncertainties  of  definition.  Certainly, 
the  account  of  the  days  in  the  good  greenwood  can 
scarcely  fail  to  appeal  to  the  perennial  primitive  instinct 
of  youth. 

Maude  Radford  Warren 


To  my  niece  and  nephews, 
MAUDE,  PAUL,  and  JACK  STANLEY 


3&obm  Jtoob 


It  was 
spring- 
time in 
England 


anb  ?|t£  ffltvvp  jdett 


Chapter  I 

ROBERT,  Earl  of  Huntington,  stood  on 
the  drawbridge  of  his  square  gray  castle. 
It  was  springtime  in  England,  toward  the 
end  of  the  twelfth  century.  He  looked  past 
the  broad  green  lawns,  on  which  gold  and 
purple  crocuses  lifted  their  gay  heads,  to  the 
meadows  where  the  yellow  cowslips  grew. 
Beyond  them  lay  the  fields  already  planted 
and,  in  the  distance,  great  Sherwood  Forest. 
The  earl's  face  was  grave  and  perplexed. 
He  was  about  to  give  a  dinner  to  the  few 
retainers  who  were  still  faithful  to  him.  His 
money  was  almost  gone,  but  they  loved  him 
for  himself  and  not  for  what  he  could  give 
them.  Now  he  was  spending  the  last  few  shil- 
lings he  had  for  their  entertainment.  When 
the  dinner  was  over,  he  intended  to  tell  them 


i2  &oftm  3|oob 

The  that  he  could  no  longer  provide  for  them,  and 

Banish-     ,  1  .    , 

ment  of  that  they  must  seek  a  richer  master. 
HoTd  His  look  grew  tender  as  he  gazed  down  the 
,  broad  road  leading  to  the  castle  and  saw  his 
friends  riding  and  walking  toward  him.  First 
rode  two  or  three  knights  on  white  horses, 
their  bridles  hung  with  silver  bells  which 
made  pretty  music.  If  they  had  been  coming 
on  a  warlike  errand  they  would  have  worn 
coats  of  mail  and  leg-pieces,  but  as  they  were 
coming  to  dine  they  wore  doublets  of  silk, 
long  silk  stockings,  and  shoes  of  embroidered 
leather.  Their  wide  hats  were  decorated  with 
large  plumes. 

Behind  them  walked  two  score  men  at 
arms.  Each  wore  a  wide  hat,  a  belted  cloth 
tunic,  close-fitting  breeches,  long  woolen  stock- 
ings, and  boots  of  leather  reaching  halfway  to 
the  knee.  For  arms,  they  carried  triangular 
shields  two  feet  in  length,  swords,  and  spears 
with  long  pennants.  After  them  came  two 
score  archers,  dressed  in  much  the  same 
fashion.  Some  of  them  wore  mantles,  fas- 
tened at  the  shoulder  with  brooches.  For 
weapons,  each  had  a  short  sword,  a  long  bow, 
and  a  sheaf  of  arrows.  Last  of  all  walked  a 
few  men  poorly  clad  in  woolen  tunics,  loose 


anb  %Ha  fflttty  Mm  13 

woolen  breeches,  and  rough  woolen  stockings,  The 
and  bearing  no  arms  except  clubs.     These  ment  <?/ 
were  the  cottagers,  who  tilled  as  well  as  they  Hood 
could  the  fields  of  their  dear  lord,  Robert, 
Earl  of  Huntington. 

All  looked  at  him  with  great  love  as  he 
stood  on  the  drawbridge.  His  hair  was  like 
the  gold  of  the  crocuses  that  grew  on  his 
lawns;  his  eyes  were  as  blue  as  the  water  in 
the  moat  which  his  drawbridge  spanned.  He 
was  so  tall  that  he  made  an  ordinary  door 
seem  small,  and  his  body  looked  as  if  he  had 
the  strength  of  two  men.  He  wore  long  silk 
hose  of  his  favorite  color,  green,  and  a  doublet 
of  dark  brocaded  silk  slashed  with  gold. 

When  the  guests  reached  him  the  earl 
bowed  courteously  and  led  the  way  across 
the  drawbridge  into  the  court  of  his  castle. 
This  was  a  paved  square  around  which  the 
castle  was  built.  As  soon  as  he  had  entered, 
servants  came  running  to  take  the  horses  of 
the  knights  and  the  weapons  of  the  other 
men. 

When  all  were  inside,  the  earl  was  about 
to  order  his  gatewarder  to  raise  the  draw- 
bridge. Whenever  this  was  done,  the  castle 
was  like  a  little  island,  protected  by  the  moat, 


h  &obm  j|oob 

The  which  could  be  crossed  only  by  swimming. 

mentof      "Nay,"  the  earl  said  to  the  warder;  "let 

Hold  it  stay  down  in  case  more  guests  arrive.     If 

an  enemy  come,  he  dare  not  hurt  me  in  the 

presence  of  these,  my  friends." 

Then  he  conducted  his  guests  through  a 
wide  entrance  at  one  side  of  the  court  into 
his  main  hall,  which  was  the  chief  room  of 
the  castle.  It  had  once  been  hung  with  rich 
tapestries,  but  these  had  been  sold  for  money 
to  buy  food.  The  floors  were  strewn  with 
rushes.  The  table  consisted  of  boards  laid 
across  trestles  and  covered  with  white  linen. 
A  few  gold  drinking  bowls  and  jugs  were 
set  here  and  there,  but  most  of  the  dishes 
were  pewter. 

The  earl  took  the  head  of  the  table.  Next 
him  came  the  knights.  On  the  table,  just 
below  the  place  where  the  knight  farthest 
from  the  earl  sat,  was  placed  a  golden  salt- 
cellar. This  showed  the  distinction  in  rank 
between  the  knights  and  those  who  had  no 
titles.  The  men  at  arms  came  next  below 
the  knights,  and  then  the  archers,  while  the 
cottagers  sat  humbly  at  the  foot  of  the  table. 

When  all  were  seated  a  door  at  the  back 
of  the  hall  opened,  and  a  sturdy,  rosy-faced 


anb  3|fe  ffltvvy  Mm  15 

friar  entered,  followed  by  a  tall  veiled  lady.  The 

Banish- 

The  earl  rose.  ment  of 

"Welcome,  Friar  Tuck,"  he  said.     "Whom  Hood 
have  we  here?" 

"Faith!  a  lady,  unbidden,  but  none  has  a 
better  right  to  come,"  said  Friar  Tuck  in  a 
hearty  voice.  "  'Tis  your  betrothed,  Maid 
Marian." 

At  that  the  earl's  face  grew  graver,  but  he 
stepped  forward,  and  took  her  hand. 

"Welcome,  dear  lady,"  he  said.  "Sit  at 
my  right,  and  share  this  poor  meal  with  us." 

The  dinner  was  far  from  poor,  but  it  was 
not  a  magnificent  feast  such  as  Robert,  Earl 
of  Huntington,  had  been  wont  to  give  when 
he  was  rich.  There  were  no  boars'  heads, 
no  peacocks  and  swans  dressed  in  their 
own  beautiful  feathers,  no  tiny  larks  served 
with  delicate  sauces.  After  Friar  Tuck  had 
asked  a  blessing,  servants  came  in  with 
venison  pies,  stewed  geese,  tiny  roasted  pigs, 
clouted  cream,  and  plum  tarts.  The  men 
in  attendance  hurried  to  and  fro  with  such 
good  will  that  no  one  was  kept  waiting  more 
than  a  moment  for  food  or  drink. 

The  earl  ate  very  little.  He  bent  his  head 
often  to  talk  to  dark,  beautiful  Maid  Marian, 


i6  Robin  l)oob 

r*«  or  to  the  knights.     But  always  his  face  was 

Banish- 
ment of  grave.     When  the  dinner  was  over  he  rose, 

Robin         j         •  j 

Hood  and  said: 

"My  friends,  you  all  know  that  my  estate 
has  dwindled,  and  that  I  am  poor.  But  you 
do  not  know  that  I  am  in  debt.  I  am  going 
to  offer  my  castle  and  lands  to  the  king, 
that  he  may  have  them  sold.  They  will  pay 
all  I  owe.  I  have  enemies  at  the  king's 
court,  but  they  will  surely  see  by  this  deed 
that  I  am  honest." 

They  were  all  listening  attentively,  and 
Maid  Marian  was  leaning  forward  eagerly. 

"As  you  know,"  Robert  went  on  in  a  low 
voice,  "I  was  soon  to  have  married  the  lovely 
Lady  Marian,  daughter  of  Lord  Fitzwalter. 
This  marriage  must  be  deferred  until  I  can 
find  some  way  of  again  getting  money. 
Maid  Marian  is  so  dear  to  me  that  I  cannot 
let  her  suffer  want." 

Marian  grew  very  pale,  and  sank  back  in 
her  seat. 

"Oh,"  she  whispered  to  Friar  Tuck,  "what 
does  it  matter  to  me  that  he  must  give  up 
his  castle?  I  could  be  happy  with  him  if  we 
had  no  shelter  for  our  heads  but  the  green 
trees  of  the  forest." 


anb  %Hs  jHerrp  jfflen  17 

The  earl  looked  at  her  with  great  love ;  The 

B  (tft'tSrl- 

then  he  continued :  ment  of 

"What  I  shall  do,  I  do  not  know  as  yet."  H°J^ 
At  that  moment  he  was  interrupted  by  the 
loud  clatter  of  a  horse's  hoofs,  and  the  con- 
fused murmur  of  voices  outside.  Then  the 
door  was  dashed  open,  and  the  king's  herald 
appeared.  He  was  mounted  on  a  white 
horse,  which  he  boldly  rode  across  the  thresh- 
old into  the  great  hall.  His  coat  and  hose 
were  of  scarlet,  and  he  carried  in  his  hand  a 
long  brass  trumpet. 

He  blew  a  loud  blast  on  this  which  made 
the  room  ring.  Then  he  said:  "Robert, 
Earl  of  Huntington,  come  into  the  king's 
court.  Robert,  Earl  of  Huntington,  come 
into  the  king's  court.  Robert,  Earl  of  Hunt- 
ington, come  into  the  king's  court." 

The  earl  started  to  his  feet,  and  all  his  men 
rose. 

"Know  all  here,"  said  the  herald,  "that 
Robert,  Earl  of  Huntington,  is  hereby  de- 
barred from  all  rights  to  this  castle  and  estate, 
and  is  summoned  to  the  king's  court  to  answer 
for  debt  and  treason.  If  »he  does  not  appear 
within  six  days,  he  is  to  be  made  an  outlaw 
with  a  price  on  his  head;  and  a  rich  reward 


is  &obm  %oob 

The  offered  to  any  who  will  bring  him  to  the  kins:, 

Banish-  . 

ment  of  dead  or  alive." 
Hood      Then  he  blew  another  blast,  and  shouted: 
"In  the  king's  name,  Robert,  no  longer  Earl 
of  Huntington,  come  into  the  king's  court." 

Some  of  the  earl's  men  looked  threaten- 
ingly at  the  herald,  but  Robert  made  them 
a  sign  to  be  still.  When  the  herald  had  ridden 
away,  the  earl  raised  his  hand  to  quiet  the 
loud  talk  that  was  bursting  from  the  lips  of 
his  followers.  He  cast  a  reassuring  look  at 
poor  frightened  Maid  Marian.     Then  he  said: 

"My  friends  and  people,  you  have  heard. 
If  I  go  to  the  king's  court,  I  shall  be  executed 
on  a  false  charge  of  treason.  If  I  stay  here, 
I  shall  be  an  outlaw,  hunted  like  a  wild  beast. 
What,  then,  must  be  my  choice?" 

His  listeners  began  to  answer  loudly,  but 
again  the  earl  held  up  his  hand. 

"Shall  we  not  leave  the  decision  to  the 
one  I  love  best  on  this  great  earth — to  the 
Lady  Marian?" 

Marian  rose,  pale  but  steady. 

"My  lord,"  she  said,  firmly,  "never  can  I 
consent  that  you  be  tried  for  treason,  for 
never  was  man  less  a  traitor  than  you.  An 
outlaw  owes  no   allegiance  to  king  or  duke. 


anb  j|ig  Mtvty  jftlen  19 

He  is  his  own  master.     Therefore,  my  good  The 
lord,  I  beg  you  to  be  an  outlaw.     They  will  ment  of 
hunt  you,  but  Robert,  Earl  of  Huntington,  ff^f 
will  outwit  them.     Go,  and  seek  your  own 
kingdom." 

The  earl  smiled  at  her;  he  glanced  out 
of  the  window  at  the  trees  of  great  Sher- 
wood Forest;  then  he  looked  at  his  stout 
archers. 

"Well  spoken!"  he  said.  "I,  no  longer 
Robert,  Earl  of  Huntington,  will  seek  a  new 
kingdom.  And  some  day,  when  the  king  sees 
how  he  has  wronged  me,  I  shall  come  back  to 
claim  my  Lady  Marian." 

Friar  Tuck  rubbed  his  plump  hands  to- 
gether. 

"In  faith,  my  lord,"  he  said,  "I,  your 
chaplain  and  friar,  will  follow  wherever  you 
go.  Your  food  will  need  blessing,  and  your 
men  will  need  the  consolation  of  religion, 
wherever  your  kingdom  may  be." 

"I  thank  you,  friar,"  said  Robert;  "but 
I  am  not  sure  that  I  shall  have  any  men." 

At  this,  a  loud  shout  rose  from  his  followers. 

"Long  live  our  lord!"  they  cried, — "our 
lord,  whom  we  will  follow  forever!" 

Robert's  face  grew  bright. 


20 


fooftm  Hooti 


"My 

good  lord, 

I  beg  you 

to  be 

an 

outlaw ' ' 


attb  gig  Jflerrp  JBen  21 

"I  thank  you,  my  friends,"  he  said;  "but  The 
bethink  you,  I  can  offer  you  nothing."  memo) 

At  this  the  knights  rose.  Hood 

"My  lord,"  said  one  of  them,  "we  have 
wives  and  children.  We  must  seek  an  over- 
lord who  will  help  us  to  lands  and  gold. 
Therefore,  we  take  our  leave." 

"Sirs,"  said  Robert,  "I  blame  you  not." 

He  followed  them  into  the  courtyard,  and 
called  to  his  servants  to  bring  their  horses. 
When  they  had  departed,  he  returned  to  the 
great  hall. 

"Since  I  am  an  outlaw,"  he  said,  "no 
longer  Robert  the  earl,  you  are  to  think  of 
me  as  plain  Robin  Hood  of  Sherwood  Forest. 
For  there  I  shall  live  under  the  greenwood 
tree,  and  hunt  deer  for  food.  Those  who 
follow  me  will  have  to  share  potluck.  I  give 
you  all  leave  to  go." 

But  not  a  man  made  a  movement  to  depart. 
They  all  rose  to  their  feet,  and  shouted 
allegiance  to  their  lord,  Robin  Hood. 

"Call  me  not  lord,"  he  said.  "In  the 
forest  there  shall  be  no  distinctions  of  rank, 
but  only  the  distinction  of  bravery  and  good- 
ness.    I  am  your  friend,  not  your  lord." 

Again  they  cheered  him. 


^  &otun  j|oob 

The      < '  You  shall  learn  to  be  the  greatest  archers 

Banish-  .  . 

ment  of  in  the  land,"  he  said,  'and  shall  be  clad  in 
Hold  Lincoln  green,  the  color  of  the  grass." 

Once  more  his  followers  raised  their  voices. 
Every  man's  face  showed  loyalty  and  enthu- 
siasm. All  were  ready  to  leave  the  shelter 
of  a  roof  for  the  open  woods,  the  safe  tilling 
of  fields  for  the  uncertain  hunting  of  deer. 
They  welcomed  the  chance  of  adventure. 
But  Marian's  face  showed  no  joy,  only  a 
sad  courage.  Robin's  eyes  were  full  of  sorrow 
as  they  rested  upon  her. 

1 '  Farewell,  Marian, ' '  he  said.  ' '  If  you  love 
me,  go  back  to  your  father,  Lord  Fitzwalter, 
under  the  care  of  good  Friar  Tuck." 

Marian  bent  her  head. 

"Robin,"  she  said,  "I  go,  but  I  shall  come 
again." 

He  watched  her  until  she  was  out  of  the 
hall.     Then  he  looked  again  at  his  men. 

"Now,"  he  said,  "who  loves  me,  follows 
me!" 

He  strode  out  of  the  hall  with  never  a  look 
at  his  gold  and  silver  plate.  He  went  into 
the  courtyard,  and  over  the  drawbridge,  and 
down  the  broad  road  with  never  a  look  back 
at  his  gray  castle.     Behind  him  walked  the 


anb  j|ig  ffltvty  jWen 


23 


men,  and  as  they  went,   one  of  his  singers  T^e . 
sang  this  song :  ment  of 

Robin 
Hood 


-0- 

1.  My   Rob -in    is      to       the      greenwood  gone;  And 

2.  I'll    sit    at   his    side    by  the  greenwood  tree,   And 


1     N  * 


,N    > 


-N— N 


HS-- 


*— * 


:^: 


H 1- 


n-A-A- 


*:=>*->-& — 0^0- 


there  he  will  hunt  from  the  pink  of  the  dawn,  Till  the 
loy  -  al     in    serv  -  ice   to    him     I'll         be.       No 


4=2=±fJ 


*£3fc-«.+ 


-(S»- 


t=3t=t 


-?'-*- 


gray  of  the    night   comes  down  from  the  sky,     For 
sher  -  iff  nor  king's  man  my   lord     shall  an  -  noy,     For 


Rob  -  in's     a       hun  -  ter,    as     none  can  de  -    ny. 
bon  -  ny   sweet  Rob  -  in      is        all        my       joy. 

And  it  was  to  this  music  that  they  all  went 
into  green  Sherwood  Forest. 


&otun  ?|oob 


Chapter  II 

WHEN  Robin  Hood  entered  Sherwood 
Forest  he  had  about  a  hundred  men. 
Many  of  these,  chiefly  the  cottagers,  soon 
showed  they  were  not  fitted  for  woodland  life. 
They  could  not  learn  to  shoot  well,  and  they 
could  not  sleep  comfortably  in  the  open, 
under  the  trees.  So  Robin  Hood  advised 
them  to  go  back  to  the  estate  and  till  the 
land  for  the  master  to  whom  the  king  might 
give  it.  Those  who  were  left  were  all  strong 
men,  but  Robin  Hood  felt  that  there  should 
be  more  of  them. 

"Since  I  am  an  outlaw,"  he  said  to  Friar 
Tuck,  as  he  sat  in  the  good  man's  little  her- 
mitage, "there  is  no  doubt  that  I  shall  soon 
be  hunted.  News  has  been  brought  me  that 
the   king   has   sent   word   to   the   Sheriff   of 

24 


anb  %fo  ffltxty  jfflen  .  25 

Nottingham  town  to  take  me  if  he  can,  alive  Robin 
or  dead.     I  am  certainly  not'  going  living."      and 

"And  you  do  not  want  to  go  dead,"  inter-  /Jl* 
rupted  the  friar.  Friar  Tuck  had  a  sturdy, 
round  figure,  rosy  face,  and  such  a  habit  of 
merry  laughter  that  he  sometimes  made  his 
ribs  ache.  He  was  truly  religious,  neverthe- 
less, and  always  kind  and  just. 

"Therefore,  we  must  get  more  men," 
Robin  said. 

"That  we  must,"  agreed  Friar  Tuck,  "but 
the  question  is,  how?  Meantime,  it  would  be 
well  if  we  made  the  most  of  the  men  we  have." 

"I  have  thought  of  that,"  Robin  said,  "and 

to  that  end  I  have  arranged  that  they  shall 

practice  archery  for  several  hours  each  day. 

Will  you  go  and  see  the  sport  this  morning?" 

■  "That  will  I,"  answered  the  friar. 

They  left  the  hermitage,  which  was  just 
a  little  open  hut  with  a  roof  of  boughs  and 
a  cushion  of  moss  on  which  the  friar  knelt 
to  say  his  prayers.  Then  they  walked 
through  an  avenue  of  trees  into  the  clearing 
which  Robin  Hood  had  chosen  for  his  own. 
It  was  a  great  grassy  oval,  edged  with  oak 
trees.  The  underbrush  was  very  thick  for 
yards  around,  so  that  the  spot  would  be  hard 


26  &obm  j|oob 

Robin  to  find  unless  the  seeker  knew  the  forest  well. 
and  Some  of  Robin's  men  had  built  themselves 
j*^  tiny  huts  like  the  friar's;  a  few  had  made 
little  clearings  under  the  oaks  in  which  they 
had  piled  beds  of  grass  and  moss.  One  or 
two  had  made  beds  for  themselves  in  the 
branches  of  the  trees.  Robin  Hood  himself 
slept  under  the  tallest  oak,  with  a  heap  of 
leaves  for  a  pillow  and  his  green  mantle  for 
a  covering. 

In  the  morning  the  soft  chirp  of  the  birds 
awakened  him,  and  he  would  lie  watching 
the  gray  dawn  change  slowly  to  pink  and 
then  to  crimson,  while  the  cheep  of  the  birds 
turned  to  sweet,  loud  singing.  Meantime,  two 
or  three  of  the  archers  chosen  as  cooks  would 
come  to  a  corner  of  the  clearing  and  build  the 
fire.  Soon  sticks  would  be  blazing  cheerfully, 
and  over  them,  black  kettles  bubbling. 

Robin  thought  of  all  this  as  he  stood  with 
Friar  Tuck,  looking  at  the  soft  green  grass 
in  which  the  pink-tipped  daisies  were  thickly 
scattered. 

"Ah,  we  are  happy  here,  Friar  Tuck!"  he 
said.  ''And  I  should  be  wholly  happy  if  only 
I  had  my  dear  Maid  Marian." 

"Have    hope,    Robin,"    said    Friar    Tuck, 


anb  %|te  Mtvvy  Jfflen  27 

heartily;  "you  and   she   will   doubtless   live  Robin 

.,  1         >»  Hood 

here  some  day.  and 

Robin  sighed,  and  then  he  said:     "Come,  /Jl* 
now,  and  see  the  men  at  their  archery." 

"But  why  do  they  not  practice  on  this 
broad  sward  of  green?"  asked  Friar  Tuck. 

Robin  Hood  laughed. 

"In  faith,  you  know  more  of  preaching 
than  you  do  of  archery,  good  friar!"  he  said. 
"This  place  of  three  hundred  yards'  square 
is  too  small.  If  my  men  shot  here,  their 
arrows  would  be  buried  in  the  underbrush. 
Truly,  they  are  noble  marksmen!  " 

"I  may  not  be  able  to  shoot  well,"  said  the 
friar,  a  little  sulkily,  "but  I  can  fight  very  well 
with  a  staff.     Besides,  I  can  learn  to  shoot." 

"You  have  a  greater  work  than  that,"  said 
Robin  Hood.  "You  are  a  good  fighter,  but 
a  better  priest." 

Yet  Friar  Tuck  was  not  entirely  pleased. 
He  frowned,  pursed  his  lips,  and  walked  so 
heavily  that  his  fat  cheeks  quivered  with 
every  step.  Just  then  they  reached  a  splendid 
straight  road,  made  centuries  before  by  the 
Ro'mans.  Across  the  road,  some  five  hun- 
dred yards  from  where  they  stood,  were  set 
the  targets — rough,  shield-shaped  boards  on 


28  &obm  goojj 

Robin  which  were  painted  black  circles  around  the 
and  bull's-eye.  Half  a  dozen  of  Robin's  good 
jlXn  archers  stood  holding  their  long  bows,  ready 
to  shoot. 

These  long  bows  were  beginning  to  super- 
sede the  crossbows  in  England.  A  crossbow 
was  about  four  feet  long,  and  consisted  of  a 
bow  fixed  crosswise  on  a  stock,  and  discharged 
with  a  trigger.  Almost  any  person  could  dis- 
charge one,  but  not  always  with  certain  aim. 

The  long  bow  could  be  used  only  by  a 
strong  man.  It  was  six  feet  long,  and  carried 
an  arrow  three  feet  in  length.  When  prop- 
erly shot,  the  arrow  had  such  force  that  it 
could  penetrate  a  four-inch  door.  The  usual 
range  was  from  three  hundred  to  five  hundred 
yards.  All  of  Robin's  men,  however,  could 
shoot  from  five  hundred  to  six  hundred  yards, 
and  he  himself  could  hit  a  mark  at  eight 
hundred  yards. 

One  of  the  archers,  who  had  been  called 
on  to  shoot  when  Robin  Hood  and  Friar 
Tuck  came  up,  stepped  to  the  middle  of  the 
road.  He  put  his  left  foot  a  little  forward, 
set  his  arrow  into  his  right  hand,  lifted  the 
bow,  took  careful  aim,  stretched  his  arm, 
and  drew  the  arrow.     With  a  loud  whirring 


■ 

noise  it  sailed  to  its  mark,  and  a  shout  from  Robin 
the  archers  near  the  target  proclaimed  that  and 
he  had  come  close  to  the  bull's-eye.  /^ 

"Good  shooting,  indeed!"  said  Robin. 
"Each  of  my  men  is  worth  four;  and  yet  I 
need  more." 

"What  is  your  pleasure,  good  Robin?" 
asked  Friar  Tuck.  "I  am  sure  you  have  a 
plan." 

"Faith,  friar,"  replied  Robin,  "I  know  of 
nothing  better  than  to  go  forth  and  speak  to 
every  big  man  I  meet,  and  invite  him  to  join 
us.     And  truly,  I  am  going  this  very  day." 

"Shall  we  not  go  with  you,  master?" 
asked  one  of  the  archers.  "Suppose  you 
were  met  by  enemies?  You  might  overcome 
four  or  five,  but  hardly  more." 

"Never  fear,"  said  Robin  Hood.  "I  will 
take  my  silver  horn,  and  if  I  need  help,  I  will 
blow  it." 

He  set  off  down  the  Roman  road,  humming 
a  merry  tune.  Presently  he  stepped  aside 
to  listen  to  the  sound  of  a  rippling  brook. . 
He  wandered  along  it  for  a  time,  his  head 
down,  for  he  was  thinking  of  Maid  Marian, 
and  of  the  old  days  when  he  was  Robert, 
Earl   of   Huntington.     Soon   he   came   to   a 


30  &obm  %oob 

Robin  narrow  bridge  spanning  the  stream,  and 
and  started  across  it.  As  he  took  the  first  steps 
John  forward,  he  heard  a  clatter,  and,  looking  up, 
saw  another  man  about  to  cross.  Robin  Hood 
stared  in  amazement.  The  man  was  almost 
seven  feet  tall;  his  shoulders  were  as  wide  as 
a  doorway,  and  his  arm  as  thick  as  a  beam. 
He  was  clothed  in  brown  leather  doublet 
and  breeches,  and  thick  woolen  stockings,  and 
he  carried  a  heavy  oaken  stick. 

"Good  morning,  friend,"  said  Robin. 

"Friend ! "  repeated  the  young  man,  shaking 
his  tangled  black  hair,  and  frowning.  "I  do 
not  make  friends  of  strangers." 

"We  may  not  always  be  strangers,"  said 
Robin,  pleasantly. 

"Then,  if  you  are  a  friend,  give  way,"  said 
the  man,  rudely.  "This  bridge  is  not  wide 
enough  for  two  to  pass  at  the  same  time." 

"That  is  true,"  agreed  Robin,  "but  as  I 
started  to  cross  first,  and  as  I  am  the  older, 
I  think  you  should  give  way  to  me." 

"Nay,  I  will  not,"  said  the  other. 

He  rushed  forward,  and  with  his  club  tried 
to  strike  Robin's  bow  to  the  ground. 

"Not  so  fast!"  said  Robin,  sternly.  "Why 
do  you  attack  a  peaceable  traveler?" 


anb  %fo  fflttvy  Mm  31 

"Fight  with  me,   then,"   said  the  young  Robin 
man.     "  Unless   you   are   a   coward,    take   a  and 
staff  and  fight  with  me."  Y£i 

"No  one  has  ever  called  me  coward!" 
cried  Robin  Hood.  "Stand  you  there  till  I 
return." 

He  went  to  the  bank  of  the  stream,  and 
cut  a  staff  from  a  young  oak  tree. 

"Now,  friend,"  he  said, — "for  I  will  still 
call  you  so, — let  us  see  which  is  the  better 
man." 

The  stranger  thought  that  because  he  was 
so  large  he  had  the  advantage  of  Robin,  but 
for  a  long  time  Robin  parried  his  blows. 
Stroke  after  stroke  each  made,  but  all  the 
strokes  fell  on  their  staffs  and  not  on  their 
bodies.  Presently,  however,  the  stranger 
struck  Robin  on  the  shoulder.  Hurt  by  the 
blow,  Robin  pressed  him  furiously.  Blow 
after  blow  he  rained  on  shoulders  and  arms, 
until  the  young  man  was  almost  exhausted. 
Suddenly,  seizing  his  chance,  the  stranger 
tripped  Robin  Hood,  who  fell  backward 
into  the  stream.  But  in  falling,  Robin  seized 
him,  and  they  struggled  together  in  the  water. 
Almost  immediately  they  scrambled  to  their 
feet,  gasping,  and  trying  to  shake  the  water 


32 


ftotnn  goob 


The 

stranger 

tripped 

Robin 

Hood, 

but  in 

falling 

Robin 

seized 

him 


anb  %fo  ffltvvy  JWen  33 

from  their  eyes  and  hair,   and  clinging  to  R°b™ 
each  other  in  the  middle  of  the  current.  and 

Little 

"That  was  a  trick  you  played,  sir,"  Robin  j0hn 
said;  "it  was  not  fair  fighting." 

The  stranger  looked  a  little  ashamed. 

"I  never  yet  was  beaten  in  a  fight,"  he 
muttered. 

Robin  made  no  reply.  He  waded  to  shore, 
and  raising  his  silver  bugle  to  his  lips,  blew 
a  loud,  sweet  blast.  Meantime,  the  stranger 
also  waded  ashore  out  of  the  water.  No 
sooner  was  he  standing  on  the  bank  than 
Robin's  bowmen,  clad  in  green,  rushed  up 
to  the  little  bridge,  Friar  Tuck,  breathless, 
in  the  rear. 

"Master,"  cried  some  of  his  men,  "why 
are  you  wet?" 

"This  man,  here,  tumbled  me  into  the 
stream,"  said  Robin. 

A  tall  archer  rushed  forward. 

"Come,"  he  said,  "let  us  put  him  back 
into  the  water  for  daring  to  duck  you." 

"Not  so  fast,"  said  Robin.  "This  is  a 
good  man  and  true.  Rather,  let  us  make 
a  brother  of  him.  Friend,"  he  added,  turn- 
ing to  the  stranger,  "do  you  follow  any  lord?  " 

"Not  I!"  said  the  man. 


34  foobtn  %toob 

R°bin  "Then  will  you  live  with  us,  a  simple  life 
and  here  in  the  woods,  shooting  deer  and  fight- 
John  ing  when  it  is  necessary  to  look  after  our 
rights  and  the  rights  of  the  poor?" 

"Gladly,  sir,"  replied  the  huge  stranger; 
"I  love  to  shoot,  and  I  like  to  eat  veni- 
son. I  see  now  that  you  are  the  great 
outlaw,  Robin  Hood.  I  am  glad  to  be  your 
man." 

"What  is  your  name,  friend? "  asked  Robin. 

"John  Little,  sir." 

At  this  Friar  Tuck  burst  into  loud  laughter. 

"I  pray  you,  good  master,"  he  said,  "look 
on  this  newcomer  as  a  new  infant.  We  shall 
have  a  feast,  and  name  him — shall  we  not, 
master?  Not  John  Little,  but  Little  John, 
we  shall  call  our  big  new  baby." 

The  bowmen  laughed  loud  and  long,  and 
John  himself  did  not  resent  the  jest. 

"Little  John  if  you  like,"  he  said,  "but 
you  will  find  that  the  new  infant  can  strike 
many  a  lusty  stroke  for  his  new  master, 
Robin  Hood." 

Then  they  all  turned  homeward  to  Robin 
Hood's  clearing,  where  a  great  feast  was 
prepared  in  honor  of  Little  John;  and  that 
day  there  was  no  more  work,  only  the  playing 


anb  jM$  Mtvty  Mm 

of  games,  and  the  singii 

Little  John  taught  his  new  friends: 


35 


of  games,  and  the  singing  of  a  song  which  R°b™ 

and 

Little 

John 


fe 


:s: 


S 


^5 


1.  The  hunt      is     up,       the    hunt     is      up, 


and 


"S 


S=S=^ 


it    is    well    nigh   day;        And  Har-ry  our  king     is 


N-H- 


« 


^ 


--+J— F-L#  ^-F— 9 — J-*-  h M— d— 

'  '      ^   I     I 

gone     hunt-ing,  to     bring    his    deer        to    bay. 


The  east  is  bright  with  morning  light,  and  darkness  it  is 

fled, 
And  the  merry  horn  wakes  up  the  morn  to  leave  his 

idle  bed. 

Behold  the  skies  with  golden  dyes  are  glowing  all 

around, 
The  grass  is  green,  and  so  are  the  treen,  all  laughing 

at  the  sound. 

The  horses  snort  to  be  at  the  sport,   the  dogs  are 

running  free, 
The  woods  rejoice  at  the  merry  noise  of  hey  tantara  tee 

ree! 


36  Robin  l)oob 

Robin  The  sun  is  glad  to  see  us  clad  all  in  our  lusty  green, 

an(l  And  smiles  in  the  sky  as  he  riseth  high,  to  see  and  to 

Little  be  seen. 

John 

Awake,  all  men,  I  say  again,  be  merry  as  you  may, 
For  Harry  our  king  is  gone  hunting,  to  bring  his  deer 
to  bay. 


anb  W*  JMerrp  Jlten 


&s& 


How  Robin  gained 

TVomoremen 


^^r-'zH 


Chapter  III 

AFTER  Little  John  became  a  member  of 
his  band  Robin  Hood  searched  for  other 
powerful  recruits.  Two  of  them  he  won 
the  week  after  Little  John  had  joined  him. 

He  and  Little  John  were  walking  together 
along  the  Roman  road.  They  were  clad 
in  homespun,  and  instead  of  bows  and  arrows 
they  carried  heavy  quarterstaves.  As  they 
talked  together,  they  heard,  far  away,  the 
sound  of  singing.  They  looked  down  the  road , 
and  saw  approaching  them  a  tall,  stout  young 
man,  carrying  a  sack  across  his  shoulders. 

As  he  came  nearer,  they  noticed  that  his 
clothes  were  covered  with  flour  dust,  and  that 
tiny  drifts  of  flour  had  settled  in  his  heavy 
eyebrows  and  flaxen  hair.  There  was  even  a 
smear  of  it  across  his  broad  red  cheeks. 

37 


38 


3£ot)m  ?|oob 


How      "  By  my  faith ! ' '  said  Robin  Hood.     ' '  This 

Robin 

Hood  must  be  the  young  miller  near  Nottingham, 

aj%,0  of  whose  strength  we  have  heard.     He  must 

^2re  be  strong   indeed,  for  he  carries  that   great 

sack  of  meal  as  if  it  were  a  lady's  kerchief, 

and  he  sings  without  loss  of  breath." 

This  is  the  song  the  young  man  sang: 


Un-der  the  green- wood  tree,    Who  loves  to   lie   with 


me,    And    tune  his  mer-ry  note,      his  mer-ry,  mer-ry 

1*99    9    9 


9  i  i  9- 


Jr-r-'*±- 


p— 


.      •   s* 


y&^-+- 


note,  Un-to  the  sweet  bird's  throat?  And  tune   his  mer-ry 


note  Un  -  to  the  sweet  bird's  throat?  Comehith-er, 


hith-er,       Come  hith-er,  come  hith-er,  come  hith-er,  come 


anb  J^tS  ffltxx?  JKen 


39 


■N? 


b— I F— I h-&*- 


-•-^-^r-^--1 


^-k- 


ifc 


-k-y-tiP- J 


How 

Robin 
Hood 
Gained 


hith-er,  come  hith-er,  come  hith-er;      Here  shall  he  see  no    \f° 

Men 


en  -  e  -  my,       But  win  -  ter  and  rough  weath-er; 


Here  shall  he     see 


my, 


But 


££t 


--A- 


'•— d 


A-F-*f- 


win-ter  and  rough  weath-er; 

*-— -*-d: 


-r-+t* i— H  — F 


k- 


Here  shall  he    see    no 


V=fr 


v- 


-%— J- 


en  -  e  -  my, 


But    win  -  ter, 


but 


=£t 


-*-#■ 


# 


A— 


v- 


— * — y 

win  -  ter    and  rough  weath-er,  rough  weath-er,  But 


Trr T- 

~f*  # 

« 

•AvP-r  h  is-J-i-- 

-  n    i  s  */ 

^•#  J   P- 

— b~ 

^-^-J-J   — 

i — p — i-— — 

*=i    - 

— i/ — 

win-ter  and  rough  weath-er. 


Un-der  thejjreen-wood 


4o 


&ot>m  J|oob 


How 

\J 

•-. 

-^-* 

— K 

1 

i — r^i 1 

>•  0 

1    >•  P 

m  «     *   * 

tn 

*  r 

^  i 

0 

j.  ^  r 

••ill 

Hood     V 

re yj 

*K    —  4  ■■-  ■■ 

-     y 

-   b  14— 

Two             tree,  Who  loves  to  lie  with  me,     And  tune  his  mer-ry 
More 
Men  _£> ft 


:tr|    p  #=j e 


^ 


-*-*• 


note  Un-to   the  sweet  bird's  throat?  And  tune  his  mer-ry 


I 


© 


&£-? 


£=^=£ 


j££ 


T^-f" 


■v- 


-ws- 


note  Un-to   the  sweet  bird's  throat?  Come  hith-er, 


9-r  ^n^ 


v- 


v-* 


-V  7   g 


A- 


hith-er, 


hith  -  er, 


hith  -  er, 


Come 


&-P- 


-v—v- 


V— *- 


hith  -  er,  come  hith-er,  come   hith-er,  come]hith-er,  Come 


#-y — 


^ 


■v- 


-W- 


^ 


■V- 


■v — ^- 


1 


hith-er,  come  hith-  er,  come  hith-  er. 


"A  good  song,"  said  Robin. 

"Hey,  good  master!"  cried  Little  John, 
"I  am  going  to  play  a  merry  jest  on  this 
fellow.  I  will  pretend  to  rob  him,  and 
then  I  will  take  him  into  the  forest  and  give 


anb  gig  jfflerrp  jlen  41 

him  such  a  feast  as  he  never  has  had,  and  all  How 
his  money  back."  Hood 

Before  Robin  Hood  could  prevent  him,  Ta™e 
Little  John  ran  forward  and  stepped  in  front  jJJ?™ 
of  the  miller. 

"Stop,  man!"  he  said. 

The  miller  swung  his  sack  of  meal  from  his 
shoulders  to  the  ground,  grasped  more  tightly 
his  staff,  and  stood  blinking  at  Little  John 
from  under  his  dusty  eyebrows. 

"Come  now,  do  my  bidding,"  said  Little 
John.  "I  have  a  mind  to  carry  that  heavy 
sack." 

"I  give  you  thanks,  if  thanks  are  due  you, 
but  I  can  carry  it,  myself,"  returned  the  miller. 

"You  mistake  me,"  said  Little  John.  "I 
will  carry  it  not  for  you  but  for  myself,  and 
likewise  whatever  money  you  have." 

The  miller  put  one  broad  foot  on  his  sack 
of  meal. 

"Alas!"  he  said,  "I  have  but  little.  If 
you  rob  me,  and  Robin  Hood  hears  what  you 
have  done,  it  will  go  hard  with  you." 

Robin  Hood  stood  aside,  watching  the  two. 
He  thought  it  strange  that  the  big  man  did 
not  try  to  fight  for  his  rights. 

"Robin  Hood  is  a  friend  of  mine,"  Little 


42  jRotun  Hooti 

RMn  J°^n  sa^-     "Come,  give  me  your  money,  or 

Hood  I  will  spill  your  good  meal  on  the  ground." 

Two      "Alas!"    cried   the   miller,    falling   on   his 

ji/J^  knees,  "do  not  spill  my  good  meal!     I  will 

give  you  whatever  money  may  lie   at   the 

bottom  of  the  bag." 

"Aha!"  said  Little  John.  "I  knew  you 
had  some." 

The  young  man  rose  slowly,  and  untying 
the  mouth  of  the  bag,  buried  his  arms  to  the 
elbows  in  the  meal.  Robin  stepped  forward, 
thinking  that  the  jest  had  gone  far  enough. 
Just  as  he  bent  over  the  sack  with  Little 
John,  and  was  about  to  speak,  the  miller 
cast  two  great  handfuls  of  the  meal  into 
their  faces.  It  blinded  them  and  they  started 
back,  rubbing  their  smarting  eyes.  The 
miller  threw  more  and  more  at  them,  till 
they  could  see  nothing.  Then  he  seized  his 
staff  and  struck  at  them  again  and  again. 

' '  Hold !  hold ! ' '  cried  Little  John.  ' « Would 
you  strike  a  blinded  man?" 

"That  I  would,"  replied  the  miller,  "if 
he  tried  to  rob  me!"  He  beat  Little  John 
across  the  shoulders,  and  a  cloud  of  meal 
rose  from  his  tunic. 

"Good  sifting  I  am  having!"  he  shouted. 


anb  %Ng  fflttty  Jfflen  43 

''This  will  teach  you  to  be  careful  how  you  How 
treat  Much,  the  miller's  son."  Hood 

Then  he  turned  his  attention  to  Robin's  ^a™ed 
shoulders.  frore 

Men 

"Hold,"  cried  Little  John,  hearing  the 
blows  which  had  ceased  to  fall  upon  his  own 
shoulders.  "Do  you  know  that  you  are 
beating  Robin  Hood?" 

"What!"  cried  Much,  the  miller's  son, 
laying  about  him  again  with  his  stick.  "Do 
you  expect  me  to  believe  that  Robin  Hood 
would  stand  by  and  see  a  poor  man  robbed? 
I  must  give  you  a  mighty  blow  for  that." 

Robin's  conscience  was  smarting  as  thor- 
oughly as  his  shoulders.  He  knew  that  no 
words  of  his  could  convince  Much,  the  miller's 
son;  so  he  seized  his  horn,  and  blew  on  it 
thrice,  loudly. 

The  miller  continued  his  beating,  and  so 
diligently  that  he  did  not  hear  a  crackling 
in  the  underbrush.  He  was  astonished  when 
a  party  of  men  in  green  fell  upon  him.  They, 
for  their  part,  were  much  surprised  to  find 
Robin  Hood  in  need  of  their  aid.  They 
would  have  beaten  Much  as  heartily  as  he 
had  beaten  their  master,  had  Robin  not 
stayed  them. 


44 


&obin  ?|oob 


anb  %te  fflttty  Mm  45 

"Nay!"  he  said.     "It  is  I  who  have  been  How 

f       .,    ,,  Robin 

in  iault.  Hood 

He  told  his  followers  the  story,  and  they  %a™ed 
could  not  help  laughing.     In  fact,  every  one  ^P™ 
laughed  except  Much,  and  even  he  gave  a 
broad  though  trembling  smile.  He  understood, 
now,  that  he  really  stood  before  Robin  Hood, 
and  he  was  not  without  fear. 

"Nay,  then,"  Robin  said.  "We  have 
something  to  forgive  each  other,  Much,  the 
miller's  son.  I  will  forget  my  sore  bones  if 
you  will  join  my  band,  here  in  the  forest.  If 
I  can  teach  you  to  use  a  bow  as  briskly  as 
you  use  a  stick,  you  will  be  of  great  advan- 
tage to  us." 

All  the  men  laughed  at  this  except  Little 
John,  who  was  rubbing  his  shoulders  and 
frowning. 

"Right  cheerfully  will  I  join  you,"  re- 
sponded Much,  the  miller's  son,  "and  you 
will  find  none  more  loyal  than  I." 

"Of  that  I  am  assured,"  said  Robin. 
"Come  now;  we  must  all  go  homeward,  and 
two  of  us  at  least  will  seek  salve  for  bruises." 

The  bruises  of  Robin  Hood  and  Little  John 
were  well  healed,  when  at  Wakefield  they  met 


46  foolrin  Hoob 

How  with  an  adventure  which  won  them  another 
Hood  recruit.  They  had  gone  there  in  disguise  to 
a™wo  transact  some  business.  As  they  were  passing 
^ree  through  the  outskirts  of  the  town  they  heard  a 
very  sweet  whistling. 

"That  is  a  pleasant  sound,"  said  Robin 
Hood.  "  It  is  as  good  in  its  way  as  the  singing 
of  our  big  Much,  the  miller's  son." 

"I  trust  he  who  whistles  cannot  use  his 
stick  so  well  as  he  uses  his  voice,"  muttered 
Little  John.  "Here  is  a  path  through  this 
corn,  master,  if  you  wish  to  come  up  with  the 
sound." 

Robin  Hood  and  Little  John  took  their 
way  through  the  cornfield,  following  the  loud, 
sweet  whistle. 

"Aha!"  cried  Robin  Hood.  "I  know  who 
this  is.  It  is  George-a-Green,  the  pinder  of 
Wakefield." 

The  pinder  (or  pinner)  of  Wakefield  was 
the  man  who  kept  the  pound  into  which  all 
stray  animals  were  driven.  The  fame  of 
George-a-Green  had  reached  Robin  Hood 
and  his  men.  He  not  only  took  care  of  the 
pound,  but  had  made  himself  guardian  of 
the  general  welfare  of  Wakefield. 

When  Robin  and  Little  John  finally  passed 


anb  j|te  JWerrp  jWen  47 

through    the    corn,    and    reached    George-a-  How 
Green,  he  had  stopped  whistling.     He  rose  Hood 
slowly  to  his  feet,  and  they  saw  that  he  was  %a^ed 
almost  as  tall  as  Little  John.     He  had  brown  More 
hair,  brown  eyes,  and  a  brown  skin.     Except 
when  he  was  angry,  his  eyes  twinkled   and 
his  mouth  was  rounded  for  whistling.     But 
as  he  gazed  on  Robin  Hood  and  Little  John 
his  mouth  was  stretched  in  a  grim  line,  and 
his   eyes   were   narrowed   by   a   frown.     He 
shook  his  quarterstafl,  threateningly. 

"How  dare  you  leave  the  king's  highway, 
and  break  a  path  through  the  corn?"  he 
demanded. 

''Friend,"  said  Robin,  mildly,  "we  have 
done  your  corn  no  harm." 

"I  am  no  friend  of  yours,"  said  George-a- 
Green. 

"Come,  then,  be  friends  with  my  stick!" 
cried  Little  John. 

He  swung  his  staff  round  his  head,  and 
brought  it  down.  George-a-Green  parried 
the  stroke  with  his  quarterstafl.  Then  he 
struck  at  Little  John,  who  in  turn  avoided 
the  blow.  Again  and  again  they  tried  to 
reach  each  other,  and  always  they  failed. 
At  last  they  paused,  breathless. 


48  &obm  j)oob 

How      ' '  A  truce ! ' '  cried  Robin  Hood.     ' '  In  truth, 
Hood  it  is  hard  to  tell  which  is  the  better  man." 
Gained      George-a-Green  sprang  at  him,  and  lifted 

More  his  stick. 

Men 

"I  have  good  enough  will  to  fight  the  two 
of  you  together,"  he  shouted. 

Robin  lifted  his  stick,  and  the  two  fought 
for  a  long  time,  neither  of  them  gaining  the 
advantage.  After  each  stroke,  George-a- 
Green  gave  a  brief,  wheezing  whistle,  and 
Little  John  could  scarcely  forbear  laughing 
at  him. 

"You  have  lost  your  breath,"  said  Robin 
Hood  at  last,  "while  I  am  still  fresh.  Let 
us  rest." 

George-a-Green  nodded,  and  sat  down 
under  a  tree,  while  Robin,  leaning  against 
the  trunk,  gazed  admiringly  at  the  young 
man's  strong  arms  and  shoulders. 

"I  wish  with  all  my  heart  you  would  serve 
me  instead  of  the  town  of  Wakefield,"  he 
said. 

"There  is  but  one  man  I  will  ever  serve," 
said  George-a-Green,  "and  that  is  Robin 
Hood,  who  has  sweet  singers  among  his  men 
to  match  my  whistling.  When  my  time  is 
finished  here  in  Wakefield,  come  Michaelmas, 


attb  gig  Jfflerrp  Jfflen  49 

I  am  going  to  seek  him  through  Sherwood  h°™. 
Forest."  Hood 

"He    has    sought    you,    George-a-Green,"  Two 
said  Robin,  "for  I  am  Robin  Hood."  M°™ 

"Well,  then,  I  give  you  greeting,  new 
master!"  replied  George-a-Green. 

He  burst  into  a  merry  whistling  tune, 
snapping  his  ringers  and  dancing  a  little  to 
show  his  delight.  Robin  and  Little  John 
laughed  at  him.  Then  the  three  sat  together 
for  an  hour,  talking  about  life  in  the  green- 
wood. Many  stories  had  come  to  the  ears 
of  George-a-Green  about  the  outlaws,  some 
true  and  some  false.  Though  he  was  a 
simple  man,  he  was  too  sensible  to  believe  all 
the  rumors  he  heard.  Having  answered  all 
his  questions,  Robin  Hood  said: 

"Now,  my  good  George-a-Green,  will  you 
minister  to  our  needs  and  give  us  some  food? 
In  truth,  your  prowess  has  made  me  so 
hungry  that  I  could  eat  for  three  men." 

George-a-Green  hastened  to  bring  forth 
bread  and  beef  and  cheese,  whistling  gayly 
the  while.  And  so  the  three  sat  comfortably 
together,  Robin  well  content  with  this  strong,  . 
cheerful  addition  to  his  band  of  merry  men. 
When  they  returned  to  Sherwood  Forest  the 


50 


&obtn  i&oob 


How  first  man  to  meet  them  was  Much,  the  miller's 

Room  . 

Hood  son,  singing  this  song: 

Gained 

Two 

More 

Men 


Blow  thy  horn,    hun  -  ter,  Come,  blow  thy  horn  on 

J I I 


JSl- 


&- 


221 


-<5>- 


S3ii~^ 


&—9- 


®=# 


■ffl" 


2±i=i=f: 


high!  In    y on -der  wood  there  lieth   a    doe;    In 

J I 


:s?" 


* 


-s^- 


?P 


faith  she    would  not      die. 


jQl. 


& 


^&- 


-&- 


Come,  blow  thy  horn, 


hun 


ter. 


hun  -  ter.  Come,  blow  thy  horn,  jol-ly 

Then  George-a-Green  whistled  the  air  with 
variations.  How  glad  they  all  were  to  have 
such  hearty  makers  of  music  in  the  company! 

As  time  went  on,  Robin  Hood  gained  many 
recruits  for  his  band,  but  none  who  were  more 
beloved  than  Much,  the  miller's  son,  and 
George-a-Green,  once  pinder  of  Wakefield. 


anh  W*  Mttvv  Jtten 


Chapter  IV 

MAID  MARIAN  lived  with  her  father, 
Lord  Fitzwalter,  in  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  castles  in  England.  Like  the  castle 
which  Robin  Hood  had  once  owned,  it  was 
built  of  gray  stone.  It  had  a  moat,  a  draw- 
bridge, and  a  high  watchtower  where  a  warden 
always  stood,  gazing  at  all  who  approached. 
After  Robin  Hood  went  to  the  greenwood, 
Marian  often  mounted  to  the  watchtower, 
and  stood  looking  over  the  wide,  rolling  fields 
of  her  father's  estate.  She  did  not  hope  to 
see  Robin  Hood,  for  she  knew  he  dared  not 
risk  his  life  outside  of  Sherwood  Forest;  but 
she  thought  perhaps  he  would  send  one  of 
his  men  with  a  message.  It  was  very  hard 
to  wait  day  after  day,  not  knowing  whether 
Robin  were  alive  or  dead. 

51 


52  IRobm  Hoob 

The  Maid  Marian  did  not  spend  all  her  time 
ture  of  in  the  watchtower,  for  she  had  many  duties 
Marian  ^°  perform.  As  her  mother  was  dead,  she 
had  to  take  charge  of  the  women  of  her 
father's  household.  There  were  some  twenty 
of  these,  old  and  young,  including  her  sisters. 
Every  day  they  sat  in  a  large  upper  room 
paneled  with  black  oak,  and  listened  and 
looked  while  she  taught  them  to  make  beau- 
tiful embroideries  and  tapestries.  If  these 
women  had  been  very  observant,  they  would 
have  noticed  that  of  late  all  her  tapestries 
had  been  woven  with  pictures  of  green  trees, 
and  grass,  and  fawn-colored  deer.  Marian's 
thoughts  were  all  with  Robin,  and  she  ex- 
pressed her  fancies  about  his  life  through  the 
work  of  her  hands. 

Sometimes,  while  the  women  were  embroid- 
ering, and  spinning,  and  weavinglinen,  Marian 
would  read  aloud  to  them.  Not  every  woman 
of  that  day  could  read,  and  her  listeners  were 
proud  of  Maid  Marian's  accomplishment. 
Sometimes  her  father's  chaplain  came  in  and 
read  them  sacred  stories.  At  other  times 
they  chatted  and  laughed  among  themselves, 
and  told  tales  they  had  heard  of  the  knights 
and  the  young  squires. 


attb  ?|te  ffltvxy  jCTen  53 

When    Lord    Fitzwalter   and   his   knights  The 
came  home  from  hunting  or  long  riding,  the  iure  of 
women  hurried  down  to  the  courtyard  to  MarLn 
meet  them.     Then  they  helped  remove  the 
armor,    and    brought    cooling    drinks.     And 
many  a  time,  when  Marian  unlaced  a  helmet, 
she  wished  that  the  face  under  it  might  be 
that  of  her  dear  Robin  Hood.     In  the  evening, 
after  supper  was  over,  the  ladies  played  on 
the  harp  or  sang  to  the  knights. 

Marian  had  still  another  important  duty. 
She  brought  up  the  little  boys,  aged  from  six 
to  fourteen,  who  were  pages  in  her  father's 
castle.  These  children  were  the  sons  of 
friends  of  Lord  Fitzwalter,  and  had  been  sent 
to  his  castle  to  be  trained  in  all  knightly 
duties.  They  spent  a  good  deal  of  time  in 
the  open  air,  watching  the  knights  and 
squires  at  work  and  at  play,  and  helping  take 
care  of  the  armor  and  horses. 

The  boys  liked  to  look  at  Marian's  pretty 
face,  set  off  by  her  rich  and  bright  clothes. 
She  wore  a  close-fitting  laced  bodice  of  green 
silk,  with  flowing  sleeves  so  long  that  she 
had  to  tie  them  in  a  knot  to  keep  them  out 
of  the  way  when  she  was  using  her  hands  very 
much.     Her  green  silk  skirt  was  long,   and 


54  &obm  jtoob 

The  was  embroidered  with  gold  thread.     Some- 

tme  of  times  she  wore  a  mantle,  and  always  a  gold 

Marian,  necklace   about   her   throat.     Her   hair   was 

braided  in  two  long  plaits  interwoven  with 

ribbons,  and  brought  over  the  shoulders  to 

hang  down  in  front. 

She  taught  the  pages,  through  her  stories, 
that  they  must  always  be  courteous,  brave, 
kind,  and  truthful.  When  she  talked  to  them 
of  brave  men,  she  had  Robin  Hood  in  mind. 
This  was  the  part  of  her  duties  that  Marian 
liked  best.  It  pleased  her  to  watch  the 
intent,  earnest  faces  of  the  boys.  Their 
clothes  were  pretty,  too.  They  wore  soft 
leather  shoes,  long  silk  stockings  of  gay 
colors,  short  silken  hose,  and  silken  doublets 
with  lace  at  the  wrists. 

"If  only  Robin  were  here,"  she  thought, 
"that  he  might  see  how  beautifully  the  boys 
learn  all  I  teach  them!" 

One  day  her  father  sent  for  her  and  told 
her  he  had  just  betrothed  her  younger  sister 
Jocelyn  to  a  great  lord,  and  that  Marian 
must  give  up  to  Jocelyn  her  place  as  mistress 
of  the  house.  In  no  other  way  could  heedless 
Jocelyn  learn  all  the  duties  of  a  great  lord's 
wife.     After  Marian  had  taken  his  commands 


anb  gtg  jWerrp  jHen  55 

she  went  up  to  the  watchtower  and  looked  T}f 

.  .  Adven- 

out  over  the  wide  lands,  m  the  direction  of  tureof 
Sherwood  Forest.  Marian 

''How  can  I  bear  this  separation  from 
Robin,"  she  thought,  "now  that  I  shall  have 
to  be  almost  idle?" 

She  watched,  as  she  so  often  had,  the  herds- 
men away  on  the  distant  fields,  or  the  men 
nearer  by  who  were  tilling  the  ground. 
Some  of  them  looked  as  tiny  as  dolls.  She 
wished  that  one  of  them  would  grow  larger 
and  larger,  and  at  last  change  into  a  green- 
clad  messenger  from  Robin. 

"If  only  I  were  with  him,"  she  thought, 
"I  could  train  his  young  pages,  if  he  has  any; 
or  at  least  I  could  mend  the  doublets  and  hose 
of  his  bowmen." 

At  that  moment  the  thought  of  going  to 
Robin  Hood  came  into  her  mind.  She  rea- 
soned that  she  would  now  be  of  little  use 
in  her  father's  castle,  and  that  she  could  be 
of  great  service  to  Robin's  people.  Marian 
always  acted  quickly  upon  her  thoughts.  She 
decided  that  she  would  steal  away  early  the 
next  morning. 

That  night  she  sat  up  late,  putting  her 
affairs    in    order.     She    went    about    saying 


56  &obm  j|oob 

The  good-by  to  many  a  quaint  carved  chair,  and 
twe  of  many  a  beautiful  tapestry  which  she  loved. 
Marfan  Next  she  made  a  small  bundle  of  clothing, 
putting  into  it,  to  please  Robin,  a  soft  robe 
of  Lincoln  green.  Finally,  she  climbed  to  a 
round  tower  at  the  very  top  of  the  castle, 
where  were  some  carved  oak  chests  full  of 
clothing.  She  selected  a  page's  suit,  all  of 
green,  and  a  shining  sword. 

Before  it  was  light  she  put  on  the  suit,  and 
then,  bundle  and  sword  in  hand,  she  stole 
down  the  oak  staircase  that  led  from  her 
room  to  the  courtyard.  She  dared  not  go 
to  the  great  entrance  because  the  drawbridge 
was  up ;  and,  besides,  there  the  guards  would 
challenge  her.  She  slipped  through  the 
stables  into  the  dewy  garden,  and  took  her 
way  among  the  flowers  and  shrubs  until  she 
reached  the  stone  wall.  She  went  along  it 
until  she  found  a  little  secret  door,  to  which 
she  had  the  key. 

She  trembled  as  she  slowly  unlocked  the 
door.  She  was  leaving  behind  a  life  of  safety, 
and  was  going  to — what?  There  were  many 
miles  to  walk  before  she  would  see  the  green 
trees  of  Sherwood  Forest.  She  might  be  in 
peril  from  wild  beasts  or  fierce  robbers.     But 


y 


attb  ffig  ffltxxy  Jtlen  57 

she  thought  of  Robin,   and  boldly  stepped  The 
outside    the  wall.    Then  she  ran   down    the  ture  of 
bank  above  the  moat,  plunged  into  the  water,  MaHan 
swam  across,  and  climbed,  dripping,  up  the 
opposite  side. 

The  faint  gray  of  dawn  was  just  showing 
in  the  sky.  Marian  began  to  run,  noise- 
lessly. She  did  not  wish  the  sharp-eyed 
warden  to  see  her.  He  would  wonder  what 
a  page  could  be  doing  out  so  early  in  the 
morning,  and  would  send  a  swift  arrow  after 
her. 

By  the  time  the  gray  had  changed  to  pink, 
Marian  was  far  out  of  shooting  range.  She 
hurried  breathlessly  over  fields  and  by  hedges 
toward  the  Roman  road,  which  she  knew  led 
to  Sherwood  Forest.  When  she  stood  upon 
it,  at  last,  she  felt  far  from  safe,  in  spite 
of  her  sword,  for  many  a  robber  infested 
the  highway.  But  she  comforted  herself 
with  the  thought  that  she  carried  nothing 
valuable,  and  that  surely  no  one  would  hurt 
a  page. 

Whenever  she  heard  any  one  coming,  she 
slipped  into  the  woods  beside  the  road,  and 
as  she  was  quick  of  movement,  not  once  was 
she  detected.     In  that  way  she  watched  many 


58  &obm  j|oob 

The  people  pass ;  bands  of  knights  and  squires 
twe  of  and  ladies  on  a  hunting  expedition ;  poor 
MaHan  cottagers  leading  their  donkeys,  which  drew 
rude  carts  full  of  late  vegetables;  and  twice, 
silent,  fierce-eyed  riders  wearing  great  boots, 
and  carrying  naked  swords.  These  she  knew 
to  be  robbers. 

As  she  had  brought  no  food  with  her  she 
was  obliged,  when  noon  came,  to  eat  the  wild 
fruit  of  the  woods.  In  an  hour  or  two  she 
grew  hungry  again,  and  was  sorry  she  had 
not  thought  of  bringing  some  dried  meat  and 
cakes  with  her.  As  the  afternoon  passed,  she 
walked  more  and  more  slowly.  It  seemed  to 
her  that  she  would  never,  never  reach  Sher- 
wood Forest. 

At  about  seven  o'clock  she  was  too  tired 
to  go  any  farther,  and  she  began  to  look  for 
a  place  to  sleep.  She  was  afraid  to  choose 
the  open  ground,  lest  some  wild  beast  should 
attack  her;  and  she  was  afraid  to  climb  into 
a  tree  lest  she  should  fall  out.  At  last  she 
came  upon  a  little  black  hut  which  a  charcoal 
burner  had  deserted.  She  picked  up  enough 
sticks  and  branches  to  build  a  barricade  before 
the  open  door;  then  she  lay  down  behind 
it,  her  head  on  her  bundle. 


anb  JMa  Mtwy  JWen  59 

She  was  so  tired  that  she  slept  at  once,  and  TAhf 

Adven- 

did  not  waken  till  the  sun  poured  in  upon  her  tureof 
over  the  barricade.  Then  she  sprang  to  her  Marian 
feet,  her  courage  all  returned.  Hearing  the 
murmur  of  a  brook,  she  followed  the  sound. 
She  washed  in  the  cold  water,  ate  some  wild 
fruit,  and  set  forth  cheerfully.  Once  she  saw 
a  young  stag  whose  antlers  were  budding. 
He  was  rubbing  them  against  the  bark  of  a 
tree,  to  get  rid  of  the  covering  skin.  Marian 
longed  to  help  him,  but  he  leaped  away 
when  she  approached.  The  sight  of  this 
timid  creature  somehow  added  to  her  own 
bravery. 

Although  she  did  not  know  it,  she  was  in 
Sherwood  Forest,  following  the  course  of  the 
same  stream  above  which  Robin  Hood  and 
Little  John  had  fought.  Presently,  she  came 
to  the  bridge  from  which  the  two  had  fallen 
into  the  water.  While  she  was  wondering 
whether  or  not  she  had  better  cross  it,  she 
heard  the  sound  of  quick  footsteps,  and  a 
tall  man  clad  in  green  came  out  from  among 
the  trees.  He  wore  a  mask  over  his  face,  and 
he  spoke  in  a  high  cracked  voice. 

"My  pretty  boy,"  he  said,  "you  must  turn 
about  and  go  back." 


60  &obin  j|oob 

The      Marian    was    trembling,    but    she    asked 
tare  of  boldly,  "And  why? " 

'anan      "  Because  none  must  cross  this  bridge  unless 
he  be  a  friend  of  Robin  Hood." 

"I  assure  you,"  said  Marian,  "that  I  am  a 
very  good  friend  of  Robin  Hood!  There- 
fore, let  me  pass,  good  sir." 

"Nay,"  replied  the  man.  "I  know  Robin 
Hood  well,  and  I  am  sure  he  has  no  acquaint- 
ance with  any  page.  He  is  cut  off  from  courts 
and  castles." 

"Nevertheless,"  persisted  Marian,  "if  you 
will  bring  me  to  him  I  am  sure  he  will  be  so 
glad  to  see  me  that  he  will  give  you  a  great 
reward." 

"Hoighty  toighty!  You  count  much  on 
his  generosity,  fair  page." 

"I  know  him  well,  sir,"  replied  Marian. 

"Come,  come,  enough  of  this  fooling!"  said 
the  man,  sternly.  "You  are  but  a  court 
spy,  young  sir.  Go  you  back  the  way  you 
came.  You  shall  enter  no  farther  into  Sher- 
wood Forest." 

Marian  looked  at  the  tall  man,  then  at  her 
shining  sword,  and  then  at  her  slim  arms. 
Her  heart  sank,  and  yet  she  knew  she  could 
never  go  back  to  her  father's  castle. 


attb  j?te  Mttvp  jBen  61 

"I  will  fight  with  you,  if  necessary,"  she  J^. 
said,  in  a  trembling  voice,  "but  I  must  pass."  ture  of 

i  iT-r       i       x  11  •  ■/■  Moid 

Hey!     1  could  spit  you  as  11  you  were  a  Marian 
young  bird!"   laughed    the   other.     "But  I 
would  not  hurt  you,  pretty  page.     Go  you 
back." 

But  Marian  suddenly  darted  forward  and 
cut  at  the  breast  of  the  man.  Laughingly  he 
parried  the  thrust,  but  he  did  not  return  it. 
Marian  struck  at  him  again  and  again,  till 
she  was  breathless,  but  she  did  not  even 
scratch  him.  At  last,  with  a  quick  stroke, 
she  reached  his  mask  and  cut  it  from  his 
face.  Then  she  cried  aloud,  and  dropped 
her  sword,  which  fell  tinkling  into  the  stream. 
The  man  was  Robin  Hood. 

"Oh,  Robert!  Oh,  Robert!"  she  cried.  "I 
did  not  know  you  when  you  spoke  in  such  a 
high  voice." 

Robin  looked  at  her  in  astonishment. 

"Don't  you  know  me?"  she  asked.  "It  is 
your  own  Maid  Marian." 

How  glad  Robin  was  to  see  her!  He  was 
amused  that  she  had  lifted  a  sword  against 
him,  pleased  at  her  courage,  and  very  much 
touched  that  she  had  come  to  seek  him. 

"Suppose  I  had  hurt  you!"  she  cried. 


62  iAotnn  l)oob 

r/te  "You  might  hurt  me  with  your  tongue, 
ture  of  but  never  with  your  sword,  my  most  dear 
MaHan  lady,"  answered  Robin. 

Then,  with  loving  and  welcoming  words, 
he  led  her  across  the  bridge.  Friar  Tuck 
and  Little  John  came  running  up,  attracted 
by  the  sound  of  voices.  Marian  told  them 
all  her  adventure. 

"And  I  have  come  here  to  stay  forever  with 
Robin,"  she  finished.  "I  may  stay,  may  I 
not?" 

"It 's  a  hard  life  for  a  lady,"  said  Robin, 
gravely,  "and  yet  I  do  not  see  how  I  can 
send  you  back  to  the  castle." 

"Faith,  stay  she  must!"  said  Friar  Tuck. 
"I  will  marry  you  this  very  hour." 

"And  I  will  go  and  kill  ai  fine  deer  for  the 
wedding  feast,"  said  Little  John. 

"Do  so,  good  man,"  said  Marian;  "for 
in  truth,  I  am  as  much  in  need  of  a  dinner  as 
I  am  of  a  wedding." 

It  was  a  beautiful  wedding  held  under  the 
greenwood  tree,  with  Marian  in  her  silken 
robe,  and  Robin  in  a  new  suit  of  Lincoln 
green.  And  in  honor  of  the  marriage,  and 
of  Marian's  adventure,  Much,  the  miller's 
son,    and    all    the    archers    sang   this    song, 


anb  His;  ffltxvv  Mm 


63 


//  was  a 
beautiful 
wedding 
ield  under 
the  Green- 
wood tree 


64 


&obm  i|oob 


4 dw»-  George-a-Green    whistling    a    soft    accompa- 
ture  of  niment : 

Maid 
Marian  L0VE  WJLL  FIND  QUT  TRE  WAy 


_^_i_ 


1.  0  -  ver   the  mountains  and    un  -  der   the  caves, 


i 


±=fc=t 


1 


P 


"f: 


r 


"S 


"22: 


:^=-^-=i=^, 


-<$> — <^- 


^T#. 


1^9- 


0  -  ver     the  foun-tains  and     un  -  der     the      waves, 


-J 


72L 


-&—9~9 


d=tt=m 


--(SI- 


'S" 


0  -«-+<s»- 


Z5>—  2?~*"P    22" 


i 


Under  waters  that  are  deepest,  Which  Neptune  still  o-bej, 

dzd- 


±=* 


t 


^-r- 


=FH +-+-F 

-J— ^ — i— A-d— 


&-*  * 


*j|±g=zs 


^-^x 


Over  rocks  that  are  the  steepest,  Love  will  find  out  his  way. 


When  there  is  no  place 

For  the  glowworm  to  lie; 

Where  there  is  no  space 

For  receipt  of  a  fly; 

Where  the  midge  does  not  venture 

Lest  herself  fast  she  lay; 


If  Love  come,  he  will  enter  The 

Adven- 

And  soon  find  out  his  way.  tare  of 

Maid 
Marian 

You  may  esteem  him 

A  child  for  his  might ; 

Or  you  may  deem  him 

A  coward  from  his  flight ; 

But  if  she  whom  Love  doth  honor 

Be  concealed  from  the  day, 

Set  a  thousand  guards  upon  her — 

Love  will  find  out  the  way. 


Some  think  to  lose  him 
By  having  him  confined; 
And  some  do  suppose  him, 
Poor  thing,  to  be  blind; 
But  if  ne'er  so  close  ye  wall  him, 
Do  the  best  that  you  may, 
Blind  Love,  if  so  you  call  him, 
Will  find  out  his  way. 


You  may  train  the  eagle 
To  stoop  to  your  fish; 
Or  you  may  inveigle 
The  phoenix  of  the  east ; 
The  lioness,  ye  may  move  her 
To  give  o'er  her  prey; 
But  you  '11  ne'er  stop  a  lover; 
He  will  find  out  the  way. 


66 


jfrojun  jjoob 


The 

A dventure 

of  Maid 

Marian 


There  is  no  striving 

To  cross  his  inter  t, 

There  is  no  contriving 

His  plots  to  prevent ; 

For  if  once  the  message  greet  him 

That  his  true  love  doth  stay, 

Though  demons  come  and  meet  him, 

He  will  go  on  his  way. 


anb  W&  ffltrvp  jWm 


TteAPVENTURES  OF  ROBIN  w 
HO0D&.SIRRICHARD  OFTHELEA 


Chapter  V 

MARIAN  was  very  happy  in  the  woods. 
It  is  true  she  did  not  have  the  luxuries 
to  which  she  had  been  accustomed  in  Lord 
Fitzwalter's  castle,  but  she  had  enough. 
She  had  added  many  comforts  to  the  green- 
wood home.  There  was  a  rough  kitchen 
table  on  which  the  cooks  chopped  pulse, 
pease,  beans,  onions,  and  other  vegetables. 
On  another  table  stood  earthen  pots,  a 
hatchet,  a  mortar  and  pestle,  a  pepper  mill, 
some  iron  cauldrons  and  pots,  a  gridiron, 
some  frying  pans,  a  sieve,  some  pitchers,  and 
a  few  round  dishes.  In  a  little  rough  cup- 
board were  kept  flour  and  spices.  In  different 
chests  she  stored  the  linen,  the  silver  dishes, 
knives,  and  spoons.  There  were  as  yet  no 
forks  in  England. 

67 


68  Eotun  gtoob 

The      Although  Marian  did.  none  of  the  cooking 

tures  of  herself,   she  liked  to   superintend  the  good 

Hood  dinners   which    the    outlaws    ate.     One    day 

Richard  Little  John  killed  an  especially  fine  deer,  and 

of  the  a\so  snared  some  pheasants  and  plovers. 

"Clearly,  we  are  to  have  a  rich  dinner," 
said  Maid  Marian.  "I  wish  we  might  have 
a  guest." 

"A  guest?"  Robin  asked.     "What  guest?" 

"I  care  not  at  all  who  it  is,"  she  replied. 

"I  should  like  to  entertain  a  knight  once 
more,"  Robin  said. 

"Why  not? "  she  asked.  " Come  you  here, 
Little  John,"  she  called. 

The  big  young  man  left  the  venison  he 
was  dressing  and  approached  her,  smiling. 

"Good  John,"  she  said,  "will  you  go  forth 
and  ask  the  first  knight  you  meet  if  he  will 
come  and  dine  with  us?" 

"Surely,  mistress,"  he  replied. 

"But  hark  you,  Little  John,"  Robin  said; 
"be  sure  to  tell  the  knight  just  who  it  is  that 
invites  him.  I  wish  no  guest  to  come  here 
unknowing  that  his  host  is  an  outlaw." 

"Well  said,  master,"  said  Little  John. 
"For  company,  I  will  take  Much,  the  miller's 
son." 


anb  %Ms  ffltxty  jBlen  69  • 

Robin  and  Marian  accompanied  their  mes-  T}f 

r  Adven- 

sengers  to  the  edge  of  the  forest.     Just  before  tures  of 
they  reached   the  Roman   road   they  saw  a  Hood 
scornful  looking  lord  riding  by,  accompanied  ^thard 
by  half  a  dozen  followers.  °J  the 

''There  goes  a  wicked,  man,"  Robin  said. 
"He  robs  rich  and  poor  alike.  He  will  stop 
at  no  knavery.  We  must  punish  him  some 
day." 

"It  is  the  wicked  Lord  of  Ely,"  said 
Marian;  "I  know  him  well.  He  owns  many 
abbeys  hereabout." 

When  the  little  company  had  passed, 
Marian  and  Robin  strolled  back  through  the 
greenwood,  while  Little  John  and  Much,  the 
miller's  son,  set  off  down  the  Roman  road. 
They  met  no  one  for  a  long  time,  but  at  last 
they  saw  a  solitary  figure  riding  toward  them. 

"Is  that  a  knight,  think  you? "  asked  Much. 

"If  so,  he  must  be  very  poor,"  replied 
Little  John,  "for  he  is  riding  unattended." 

"Rich  or  poor,  our  master  will  make  him 
welcome,"  said  Much. 

As  the  horseman  came  nearer,  they  saw 
that  he  was  riding  carelessly,  with  one  foot 
only  in  the  stirrup,  as  if  he  did  not  care 
whether  he  were  thrown  or  not.     His  doublet 


•  70  &ojnn  iDoob 

.,r/^e  and  cloak  and  hose  were  all  black,  and  very 

A  avert-  t  J 

tmes  of  shabby.     His  face  looked  sad,  but  it  was  a 

Robin  ..  1    r 

Hood  gentle,  good  iace. 
Richard      "Greeting,    sir,"    called    Little   John.     "I 
of  the  pray  you,  are  you  engaged  to  dine?" 

"No,"  replied  the  knight,  in  a  low  voice; 
"I  had  forgotten  about  dining." 

"Then  my  master  bids  you  dine  with  him, 
if  so  be  you  are  not  too  proud  to  dine  with  an 
outlaw.     His  name  is  Robin  Hood." 

"Outlaw  though  he  be,"  answered  the 
knight,  "I  have  heard  much  good  of  him. 
Gladly  will  I  come." 

He  rode  along  dejectedly,  the  two  men 
following.  Robin  Hood  was  waiting  for  them 
on  the  edge  of  the  clearing. 

' '  What ! "  he  cried.  "  Is  it  you,  Sir  Richard 
of  the  Lea?" 

"And  is  it  you,  my  lord  of  Huntington!" 
exclaimed  Sir  Richard. 

"Nay,"  said  Robin,  "I  am  an  outlaw  now 
— no  longer  earl." 

"I  am  glad  to  see  you,  Robert  or  Robin," 
said  Sir  Richard.  "I  am  always  your  friend, 
— if,  indeed,  you  care  to  be  the  friend  of  one 
so  full  of  misfortune  as  myself." 

"In   truth,    you   look   wretched   enough," 


anb  j?te  fflmy  Jtten  71 

said    Robin.     "Where    is    the    gay    scarlet  J*J 
doublet  you  liked  to  wear,  and  the  great  gray  tares  of 
horse  you  always  rode?"  Hood 

Sir  Richard  sighed  deeply.  Richard 

"You  remember  my  son  Edwin?  "  he  asked,  "fjj* 
"By  accident  the  lad  shot  a  knight  belonging 
to  the  household  of  the  Lord  of  Ely." 

"Ah!  that  lord  rode  by  only  this  morning/' 
said  Robin. 

"Aye,  he  was  riding  to  an  appointment 
with  me.  This  wicked  lord  has  the  favor  of 
the  king,  and  he  has  poisoned  the  king's  mind 
against  me.  I  have  been  obliged  to  give 
him  all  my  gold,  and  my  wife's  dowry,  in 
order  to  pay  him  for  the  life  of  the  knight." 

"That  is  a  greater  penalty  than  the  law 
demands,"  said  Robin. 

"True,  but  this  Lord  of  Ely  has  forced 
me  to  it.  He  took  a  mortgage  of  four  hun- 
dred pounds  on  my  castle.  I  paid  it,  but 
there  were  no  witnesses,  and  he  told  the  king 
I  still  owed  him.  So  now  I  am  forced  to 
give  the  money  to  him  over  again,  and  if  I 
cannot  pay  it  to-day,  then  am  I  ruined.  I 
and  my  wife,  and  my  helpless  little  girls 
will  be  turned  out  into  the  world  with  no- 
where to  go." 


72  &oftm  %oob 

rA«      "And  have  you  the  four  hundred  pounds? " 

A dven-  J  r 

tures  of  asked  Robin. 
Hood      "I  have  but  ten  shillings  in  all  the  world," 

S  replied  the  knight. 
°J *  Lea  They  began  to  cross  the  clearing.  Maid 
Marian  approached,  and  the  knight  greeted 
her  courteously.  She  brought  him  perfumed 
water  in  a  golden  bowl,  and  a  linen  towel, 
that  he  might  wash  his  hands.  Then  she  led 
the  way  to  the  feast,  laid  on  a  long  table 
spread  with  a  white  cloth.  It  was  a  good 
dinner,  with  the  green  trees  instead  of  tapes- 
tried walls,  and  the  blue  sky  instead  of  a 
paneled  roof,  and  the  singing  of  the  birds 
instead  of  a  harper.  Sir  Richard  tried  to 
seem  cheerful  as  his  hosts  pressed  food  upon 
him,  but  he  did  not  succeed  in  throwing  off 
his  grief. 

When  the  dinner  was  over  and  all  the  bow- 
men except  Little  John  and  Much,  the  miller's 
son,  had  gone  with  their  bows  and  arrows 
to  practice  shooting  along  the  Roman  road, 
Robin  Hood  said: 

"Presently,  we  shall  follow,  and  you  shall 
see  some  good  sport.  But  that  you  may 
look  upon  it  with  a  care-free  spirit,  Sir 
Richard,  let  me  tell  you  that  you  shall  have 


anb  gig  Jfflerrp  jWen  73 

four  hundred  pounds.     My  men  and  I  have  T.kf 

c .  J  A  aven- 

been  winning  some  money,  and  we  are  glad  twes  of 
to    share   with    you.     You    shall   have    four  Hood 
hundred  pounds  from  my  own  store."  %ckard 

Sir  Richard's  face  brightened.  °^he 

"It  would  save  me  from  ruin!"  he  said. 
"And  I  think  that  I  could  pay  it  back  within 
the  year.  For  once  I  am  sure  that  the  castle 
is  my  own,  I  shall  have  the  heart  to  see  that 
the  fields  are  tilled  and  the  herds  tended." 

"We  could  not  let  your  wife  and  children 
suffer,"  Marian  said. 

"It  is  for  them  that  I  accept  the  loan," 
Sir  Richard  responded. 

"Go  you,  Little  John,"  said  Robin  Hood, 
"and  open  my  chest  that  stands  there  under 
the  greenwood  tree.  Count  out  four  hundred 
pounds  for  Sir  Richard  of  the  Lea." 

Little  John  rose  quickly  and  went  to  the 
chest,  followed  by  Much. 

"And  you,  my  beloved  lady,"  said  Robin 
Hood  to  Marian,  "can  you  not  find  twenty 
yards  of  scarlet-and-gold  cloth  for  Sir  Richard 
out  of  one  of  the  cedar  chests  I  gave  you?" 

"Gladly,"  replied  Marian. 

She  hurried  after  Little  John  and  Much. 
Little  John  was  counting  out  the  money. 


74  &obm  j|oob 

The      ilin  faith,"  said  Much,   "you  have  more 
tures  of  than  four  hundred  pounds  there ! ' ' 

Hood      "Yes,  but  the  poor  knight  needs  more," 
SSX  replied  Little  John. 
of  the      "You  are  very  generous  with  some  one 
else's  gold,"  remarked  Much. 

"Look  at  the  mistress,"  said  Little  John. 
"She  sets  us  a  good  example." 

Maid  Marian  was  measuring  each  yard  of 
the  twenty  she  had  been  told  to  cut  by 
Much's  bow,  which  was  six  feet  long. 

"The  good  knight's  need  is  greater  than 
ours,"  explained  Maid  Marian,  hurrying  back 
to  Sir  Richard,  her  arms  full  of  glowing  scarlet 
and  gold. 

Sir  Richard's  face  was  radiant. 

"I  can  never  repay  you,"  he  said,  "even 
though  I  do  give  you  back  your  gold." 

"I  am  going  to  send  an  escort  with  you," 
said  Robin  Hood,  as  Sir  Richard  bound  the 
cloth  and  the  moneybags  upon  his  horse. 
"You  will  need  guards  for  the  road,  and  a 
witness  who  can  prove  that  the  wicked  Lord 
of  Ely  has  been  paid  the  second  four  hundred 
pounds.  Little  John  and  Much,  the  miller's 
son,  shall  go  with  you." 

At  Robin  Hood's  command  the  two  men 


anb  j|te  Jtterrp  jffflen  75 

dressed    themselves    as    knights,    and    rode  The 
with  Sir  Richard  of  the  Lea  till  they  came  to  tures  of 
the  Fox  and  Goose,  the  inn  where  he  was  to  j^Jjj* 
meet  the  Lord  of  Ely.     A  good  priest  was  ^hfrrd 
just  entering  the  inn,  and  they  asked  him  to  of  the 
be  a  witness  for  Sir  Richard.     So  the  four 
entered  the  main  room  together. 

The  Lord  of  Ely  was  sitting  behind  a 
table;  his  dark,  scornful  face  looked  very 
confident.  Behind  stood  his  half-dozen  fol- 
lowers. They  were  all  sure  that  Sir  Richard 
did  not  have  the  four  hundred  pounds.  Sir 
Richard  bowed  courteously,  but  the  Lord  of 
Ely  scarcely  nodded. 

"Have  you  come  to  give  up  your  castle 
to  me?"  he  asked,  abruptly. 

"Have  you  my  deed  of  surrender,  my  lord? " 
asked  Sir  Richard. 

"Here  it  is,  safe  enough,"  said  the  Lord  of 
Ely,  pointing  to  a  paper  on  the  table  before 
him. 

Little  John  boldly  stepped  forward  and 
seized  it. 

"This  is  worthless,  now,"  he  said,  "for 
Sir  Richard  has  the  four  hundred  pounds." 

He  tore  the  parchment  into  pieces  as  Sir 
Richard  handed  over  the  bags  of  gold. 


76 


l\obu\  l)oob 


Little 
John  tore 
he  parch- 
ment to 
pieces 
as  Sir 
Richard 
handed 
over  the 
gold 


anb  gig  jBerrp  Jflett  77 

The  Lord  of  Ely  scowled,  and  his  face  grew  The 

Adven- 

cnmson.  tures  of 

"  What  is  all  this? "  he  demanded.  Hood 

"A  disappointment  for  you,  my  Lord  of  SSefc&'S 
Ely,"  said  Little  John.  of 'the 

"Another  such  word,  my  man,  and  I  will 
hale  you  to  the  king,  despite  your  rank!" 
cried  the  Lord  of  Ely. 

Sir  Richard  made  an  anxious  sign  to 
Little  John,  (who  spoke  no  more.  Much 
slowly  counted  out  the  gold,  showing  that 
Sir  Richard  had  several  pounds  left.  The 
Lord  of  Ely  could  hardly  speak  for  rage. 

" Another  time,  Richard  of  the  Lea,  I'll 
have  your  castle  and  your  life,  too!"  he 
shouted. 

Sir  Richard  hurried  away,  afraid  lest  the 
Lord  of  Ely  and  his  followers  might  do  him 
and  Much  and  Little  John  some  harm. 

"I  shall  feel  secure  only  when  I  am  in  my 
own  strong  castle  again,"  he  said. 

Little  John  and  Much  saw  him  safely  on 
his  way  to  his  Castle  of  the  Lea.  Then  they 
went  back  to  Robin  Hood.  They  met  him 
on  the  Roman  road,  a  band  of  bowmen  with 
him,  among  them  George-a-Green,  whistling 
merrily. 


78  &oftm  %oob 

The      "Why  are  you  here,  master?"  asked  Little 
tures  of  John.     "  Not  to  meet  us,  surely?  " 

Hold      "Nay,  I  know  you  too  well  to  do  you  such 
Rkhald  h°nor>   my  good   Little  John,"   said   Robin, 
of  the  smiling.     "I    am   waiting   for   my    Lord    of 
Lea  Ely." 

Little  John  and  Much  laughed  joyously. 
"Good,   master!"   said  Much.     "Now  we 
can  punish  him  for  his  rude  treatment  of  Sir 
Richard."     He  broke  joyfully  into  this  song: 

"We  be  yeomen  of  the  forest, 
Under  the  greenwood  tree. 
We  live  by  our  king's  deer; 
Other  shift  have  not  we." 

They  lay  in  the  woods,  laughing  and  sing- 
ing, for  about  an  hour;  and  then  Robin  Hood 
held  up  his  hand  to  silence  them.  Half  a 
mile  away  came  riding  the  Lord  of  Ely  and 
his  men.  They  moved  rapidly,  looking  from 
left  to  right  for  fear  of  robbers. 

When  they  reached  the  stretch  of  road 
opposite  Robin  Hood  he  called  to  them  to  halt. 

"Stop,  my  Lord  of  Ely!"  he  cried,  loudly. 
"Why  this  haste?" 

The  Lord  of  Ely  looked  up.  There  stood 
Robin  and,  behind  him,  several  archers  clad 
in  green,  holding  their  bows  ready  to  shoot. 


anb  ?|te  ffltttp  Mm  79 

"Pay  me  a  visit,  my  lord,"  said  Robin.  The 
"Get  down  from  your  horse  and  walk  this  tures  of 
way.     And  bring  your  moneybags  with  you."  gjJJ 

"I    have    no    moneybags,"    mumbled    the  ^.d, Sir 
Lord  of  Ely.     "I  am  a  very  poor  man."  of  the 

At  this  the  bowmen  laughed. 

"How  much  money  have  you  in  your 
moneybags?"  asked  Robin. 

"Only  ten  shillings." 

"If  you  are  telling  the  truth,"  said  Robin 
Hood,  "I  shall  take  pity  on  your  poverty,  and 
give  you  four  hundred  pounds.  If  you  are 
speaking  falsely,  you  shall  give  me  four  hun- 
dred pounds." 

The  Lord  of  Ely  pointed  to  his  saddle. 

"You  can  see  my  moneybag  hanging  on 
the  pommel,"  he  said. 

"Nay,  I  am  sure  you  have  another,"  replied 
Robin. 

He  twitched  off  the  lord's  mantle,  and 
there  at  his  waist  hung  the  bags  of  gold  which 
he  had  taken  from  Sir  Richard  of  the  Lea. 

' '  I  am  sure  you  did  not  come  by  this  money 
rightly,"  Robin  said,  as  he  tied  the  money- 
bags to  his  own  belt.  "  It  is  my  duty  to  take 
it  away  from  you,  to  teach  you  to  be  honest. 
But,   in  return,    you    shall    sup    here, — not 


8o  &ofam  Hoob 

The  with  me,  for  I  would   not  sit  at  the  same 
tures  of  table  with  a  man  so  cruel  as  you.     But  we 
RHoTd  had  an  honored  guest  to  dine.     I  will  give 
and  sir  y0U  the  remainder  of  his  feast." 

Richard  J 

of  the  The  Lord  of  Ely  was  very  angry,  but  he 
dared  not  speak  further,  for  he  feared  that 
his  life  was  in  danger.  Robin  blindfolded 
him  and  his  men,  led  them  to  the  clearing, 
and  placed  them  at  table.  The  Lord  of  Ely 
sat  with  his  followers  huddled  close  to  him, 
and  hastily  ate  cold  venison  and  tender 
pheasant,  preserved  figs,  and  plum  tart. 
As  soon  as  he  dared  he  rose,  and  then  Robin 
Hood  led  him  and  his  men,  blindfolded,  back 
to  the  edge  of  the  forest,  and  gave  them  per- 
mission to  mount  their  horses  and  go. 

"One  piece  of  advice  you  must  heed,  my 
Lord  of  Ely,"  he  said.  "If  I  again  find  you 
taking  money  unjustly,  I  shall  see  that  you 
do  not  keep  it  long." 

The  Lord  of  Ely  and  his  men  rode  off 
hastily,  bowed  over  their  horses  as  if  they 
feared  that  Robin  would  send  arrows  after 
them.  When  they  were  out  of  sight,  George- 
a-Green  turned  to  his  master. 

"Good  Robin,"  he  said,  "we  have  done 
a  man   a  kindness   and  punished  an  unjust 


attb  $itf  jHerrp  Jfflen 


8r 


knave,  and  we  still  have  our  four  hundred  The 

1     ,,  .4  ^era- 

pOUndS.  /Mre5  0/ 

"So  much  the  better,"  said  Robin.     "We  fgj 
can  give  it  to  some  other  needy  person."  a^Ks% 

Then  they  all  went  back  to  the  clearing  o/  ^e 
where   Maid   Marian  awaited  them,    Much, 
the  miller's  son,  with  a  comical  face,  singing 
over  and  over  again  this  song: 


&? 


+-i 


-<s>- 


.£?. 


t 


1-0 


St 


% 


The  cramp    is      in       my    purse    full  sore,    No 


-f^— 


35 


-& — 0- 


-<S> — 0- 


-(2- 


E 


mon-ey  will  bide  there-in  -  a,  And   if       I   had  some 


± 


^-# 


F— # 


£ 


salve   there-fore,       Oh,  light  -  ly  then  would     I 


t^==; 


-<s>- 


.^_ 


-&- 


\izt 


-&-*- 


&^ 


3 


iq 


-lo- 


sing -  a      Hey  -  ho!    the  cramp-a;      hey  -  ho!    the 


i=t 


-&- 


-&- 


■&-T 


z± 


A-#- 


feE 


m 


cramp-a,       Hey  -  ho!  the  cramp -a,  the  cramp-a! 


&oiun  Hoob 


Chapter  VI 

SINCE  Robin  Hood  was  an  outlaw  with 
a  price  on  his  head,  he  had  many 
enemies  eager  to  take  him  prisoner.  The 
chief  of  these  was  the  Sheriff  of  Nottingham. 
Many  and  many  a  time  had  this  stern  man, 
with  a  great  band  of  followers,  searched  the 
long  miles  of  Sherwood  Forest,  but  he  had 
never  found  Robin  Hood's  cunning  hiding 
place. 

At  last  he  laid  a  trap  into  which  he  thought 
Robin  Hood  would  be  sure  to  fall.  He  pro- 
claimed far  and  wide  that  he  intended  to 
hold  a  contest  in  archery.  Every  one  should 
be  welcomed.  None  should  be  questioned  as  to 
whence  he  came  or  whither  he  was  going.  This 
proclamation  was  pinned  on  several  trees 
in    Sherwood    Forest,    and    presently    Little 

82 


John  found  it  and  straightway  brought  it  to  ^£vther 
Robin  Hood.  tures  of 

''Aha!"  said  Robin,  "the  sheriff  wishes  us  Hood 
to  walk  into  his  hands."  Rkhfrd 

"It  is  a  plot,  then?"  asked  Little  John.        °[^e 

"Plainly,"  answered  Robin.  "Neverthe- 
less, I  think  we  had  better  go.  The  sheriff 
believes  he  will  recognize  us  by  our  good 
shooting,  but  we  shall  puzzle  him.  We  shall 
not  shoot  so  well  as  we  can ;  then  he  will  think 
we  are  but  ordinary  bowmen." 

The  bowmen  listened  to  their  leader  with 
great  interest.  To  enter  Nottingham  seemed 
to  them  an  exciting  adventure, — far  more  so 
than  shooting  in  the  forest,  or  contending 
with  the  Lord  of  Ely.  Only  rarely  did  Robin 
Hood  allow  one  of  them  to  go  to  the  town,  and 
then  he  wore  a  disguise,  for  to  be  recognized 
as  an  outlaw  meant  instant  imprisonment. 
Therefore,  the  men  longed  all  the  more  to 
exchange  occasionally  the  woods  for  the 
streets. 

"It  will  be  pleasant  to  mingle  with  people 
once  more,"  said  Much,  the  miller's  son, 
musingly ;  "I  should  like  to  hear  some  of  the 
Nottingham  singing." 

"I  pray  you,  let  only  three  or  four  go," 


84  foobm  Ijoob 

Further  said  Maid  Marian,  "and  wear  chain  armor 
tmes  of  under  your  suits  of  Lincoln  green." 
S      "That  is  a  good  plan,"  said  Robin;  "for, 
Richard  indeed,  treachery  may  be  done  us,  however 
of  the  careful  we  are." 

There  was  some  disappointment  on  the 
part  of  the  bowmen  when  Robin  Hood  chose 
Friar  Tuck,  Much,  George-a-Green,  and  Little 
John  to  accompany  him.  But  the  men 
always  obeyed  Robin  cheerfully.  They 
escorted  the  five  to  the  Roman  road,  and 
watched  them  walking  away,  the  cock's 
feathers  nodding  in  their  hats,  their  bows  and 
quivers  swinging  on  their  backs.  Robin 
Hood  turned  once  or  twice  to  wave  his  hand 
to  Marian. 

They  walked  two  or  three  hours,  and  at 
last  reached  the  town  of  Nottingham.  The 
little  stone  houses,  and  thatched  huts,  and 
forges  and  shops  were  set  irregularly  along 
the  streets.  There  was  no  castle,  but  the 
sheriff  had  a  very  handsome  house  of  stone, 
with  small  dungeons  underneath.  In  one  of 
these  he  hoped  some  day  to  imprison  Robin 
Hood. 

At  one  end  of  the  town  was  a  big  public 
square,   where  the  contest  was  to  be  held. 


anb  %tg  fflttxy  Mm  85 

Thither  all  the  people  were  flocking.     There  Further 
were  a  few  knights  on  horseback,  accompanied  turesof 
by  ladies  whose  palfreys  wore  trappings  of  #^w 
rose-colored   and   violet    silk.     These    ladies  <™*.Sir, 

Richard 

laughed  gayly,  and  nodded  to  the  com-  of  the 
mon  people.  There  were  plump  shop- 
keepers, clad  in  worsted,  and  carrying  thick 
sticks,  since  they  had  no  swords.  Young 
mothers  in  holiday  finery  led  their  little 
children  to  see  the  show,  while  old  women 
hobbled  thither,  leaning  on  crutches.  Many 
men  from  the  country  round  about  had  driven 
in  with  their  families  in  rough  carts  with 
great  heavy  wheels.  All  were  talking  and 
laughing,  and  showing  deep  interest  in  the 
contest.  Occasionally  some  one  would  speak 
to  an  archer,  and  wish  him  good  luck  in  his 
shooting. 

When  Robin  Hood  and  his  men  reached 
the  square  they  found  several  other  bowmen 
assembled  at  one  side;  they  were  looking 
across  at  the  mark  which  had  been  set  up  at 
the  other  side,  five  hundred  yards  away.  The 
five  friends  smiled  at  one  another.  They 
could  easily  shoot  that  distance,  even  Friar 
Tuck. 

Presently  the   Lord   Sheriff  came  driving 


86  l\ob\n  ll)ooti 

Further  up   the   street,    escorted   by   armed   guards. 

tmes  of  He  wore  a  crimson  robe  edged  with  ermine, 

fori  and  he  looked  very  cold  and  haughty.     He 

R^hSid  t00^  n^s  sea^  iri  a  pavilion  just  behind  the 

of  the  archers,  and  then  gave  the  sign  that  the  sport 

might  begin. 

Man  after  man  came  up  and  shot  at  the 
white  board  on  which  was  painted  a  black 
bull's-eye.  Most  of  them  fell  far  short  of 
the  mark;  one  or  two  came  near  it,  but  no 
one  quite  pierced  it. 

Then  Robin  Hood  and  his  men  stepped 
forward. 

"By  my  faith,"  whispered  Robin,  "it  goes 
against  the  grain  to  miss  the  mark!  But 
we  must." 

Friar  Tuck  shot  first;  afterwards  Little 
John,  Much,  and  George-a-Green,  each  just 
touching  the  outside  of  the  mark.  Then 
Robin  Hood  drew  his  gray-goose  shaft,  and 
his  arrow  split  the  arrow  of  Little  John. 
Every  one  but  his  men  supposed  this  to  be 
an  accident. 

1 '  Well  done ! ' »  cried  the  Lord  Sheriff.  ' « Now, 
all  try  again." 

Again  each  man  shot,  but  not  once  was 
the  bull's-eye  pierced. 


"The  shooting  might  be  better,"  grumbled  Further 
the  sheriff.  tures  0f 

"None  could  be  better,  my  lord,"  spoke  up  fgj 
a  constable,  "unless  it  were  that  of  the  out-  9^.Sir, 

Richard 

laws  in  Sherwood  Forest."  of  the 

"I  warrant  you  I  can  shoot  as  well  as  they 
can,"  said  Robin  Hood,  impulsively. 

"Ah,  boaster,"  said  the  sheriff,  "you  are 
very  free  with  your  tongue.  Try,  now,  and 
if  you  hit  the  bull's-eye  I  will  give  you  ten 
shillings;  but  if  you  fail,  I  will  give  you  and 
your  friends  ten  lashes  each." 

"My  men,"  whispered  Robin  Hood  to 
Little  John,  "put  your  backs  together.  We 
cannot  take  those  ten  lashes,  so  I  must  e'en 
do  some  pretty  shooting;  and  then,  as  they  ( 
will  guess  who  we  are,  we  must  run  for  it, 
fighting  as  we  go." 

Robin  chose  his  arrows  carefully,  lifted 
his  bow  slowly,  and  shot  again  and  again. 
First  he  filled  the  bull's-eye  full  of  arrows; 
then  he  split  these,  one  after  another,  with 
other  arrows.  While  every  one  stared  open- 
mouthed  at  his  wonderful  skill,  he  backed 
away  slowly  from  the  pavilion,  saying: 

"I  will  show  you  what  I  can  do  at  longer 
range,  my  Lord  Sheriff." 


88  ftoftm  jjoojj 

Further      He  walked  backward  more  quickly,  shoot- 

tures  of  ing  as  he  went,  and  again  filling  the  bull's- 

Hood  eYe  with  arrows.     His  four  men  edged  along 

and  Sir  with   him.     By   this   time   the   Lord   Sheriff 

Richard  J 

of  the  had  recovered  from  his  astonishment,  and 
his  wits  had  begun  to  work.  He  sprang  to 
his  feet. 

1 '  Seize  me  those  men ! "  he  shouted.  ' '  For, 
in  truth,  I  think  we  are  not  far  from  the  out- 
laws of  Sherwood  Forest." 

At  that,  Robin  and  his  men  began  to  run. 
The  sheriff's  archers,  at  his  command,  shot 
after  them.  But  they  aimed  for  the  bodies, 
and  all  the  arrows  glanced  off  the  chain 
armor  underneath  the  green  coats. 

"Pursue  the  outlaws!"  commanded  the 
sheriff. 

Robin  and  his  men  ran  more  quickly  than 
ever,  for  now  the  sheriff's  archers  were  trying 
hard  to  overtake  them.  One  after  another 
the  pursuers  dropped  off,  till  only  a  few 
remained.  They  kept  shooting  as  they  fol- 
lowed Robin  and  his  friends  into  the  woods, 
and  at  last  the  arrow  of  one  of  them  struck 
Little  John  in  the  leg.  He  staggered  for  a 
few  moments,  and  then  fell. 

"Good  master,   I  pray  you,  kill  me,"  he 


anb  3Jjte  JWerrp  jflen 


89 


Robin 
chose  his 
arrows 
carefully, 
lifted  his 
bow  slowly 
and  shot 
again 
and  again 


90  &ot)in  l)oob 

/•«r/A«r  said  to  Robin,  "for  I  do  not  wish  to  fall  into 
tures  of  the  hands  of  our  enemies." 
RHoZ      Robin  Hood  handed  his  bow  to  Much. 
TASird      "Never  can  I  kill  you,  dear  comrade,"  he 
of  the  said.     "Do  you,  good  Much,  and  George-a- 
Green,  and  Friar  Tuck,  shoot.     I  am  going 
*        to  carry  Little  John." 

He  lifted  the  huge  young  man  and  carried 
him  painfully  for  several  yards.  He  rested 
for  a  few  seconds  and  then  set  out  again,  the 
others  shooting  steadily  the  while.  George- 
a-Green  whistled  sharply  every  time  he  sped 
a  shaft;  big  Much  knotted  his  brown  brows 
and  frowned;  the  good  Friar  Tuck  trotted 
backward  heavily,  his  rosy  face  anxious,  for 
he  could  not  shoot  so  well  as  the  others. 

"Turn  you  to  the  left,"  panted  Robin  at 
last,  "for  this  road  leads  to  the  castle  of  our 
good  friend,  Sir  Richard  of  the  Lea.  Those 
who  pursue  us  dare  not  come  very  near  to 
his  estate,  and  I  cannot  carry  Little  John 
much  farther." 

Even  as  Robin  Hood  spoke,  Sir  Richard 
appeared,  walking  through  the  woods  in  com- 
pany with  his  wife  and  son  and  two  or  three 
followers. 

"My  good  friend  Robin  Hood!"  he  cried. 


anb  %fo  Jtlerrp  jWen  91 

"And  in  danger?     Come,  now,  to  my  castle."  Further 

When  the  sheriff's  men  saw   Sir   Richard  twes  of 
and  his  company  they  stopped,  and  presently  ^ood 
they  turned  back  to  the  town  of  Nottingham.  g^hStra 

Sir  Richard  ordered  his  men  at  arms  to  of  the 
carry  Little  John.  Then  he  led  Robin  up  a 
grassy  road  to  the  Castle  of  the  Lea,  a  red- 
towered  building  standing  on  a  hill.  His 
lady  brought  Robin  and  the  men  perfumed 
water,  waiting  on  them  just  as  Maid  Marian 
had  waited  on  Sir  Richard.  A  good  monk 
who  was  skilled  in  surgery  cared  for  Little 
John's  wound,  and  soon  all  were  seated 
around  the  long  table  in  Sir  Richard's  hall, 
where  Robin  and  his  men  told  the  story  of 
the  day  at  Nottingham. 

Then  Sir  Richard  told  Robin  that  he  had 
prospered  since  the  outlaws  had  helped  him, 
and  that  he  would  be  able  to  pay  back  the 
four  hundred  pounds  before  the  year  was  out. 
He  was  much  surprised  when  Robin  told 
him  that  he  had  got  back  the  money  from 
the  wicked  Lord  of  Ely. 

After  that,  a  gray-haired  old  harper  sang 
to  them  of  the  glories  of  King  Arthur  and 
his  court;  and  all  listened,  especially  the 
little  pages,  who  hoped  some  day  to  be  brave 


92 


&obm  3|oob 


knights.     The  song  the  guests  liked  best  was 
"Troy  Town" 


>> . 


=b 


-<S &r 


-& — &- 


-&■ 


72 


-&-*—*r 


When  Troy  town  for   ten    years'  wars  With-stood  the 


4- 


-fctte — grt  g — *— * — s 


d=q 


-<s- 


Greeks  in    man-ful     wise;     Yet    did  their  foes     in- 


crease so      fast,  That   to     re  -  sist  none  could  suf-fice. 


T* '■  J 


i(2: 


«$*— 


uTsr 


:s: 


-<^- 


Waste      lie     those    walls    that   were     so 


good,   And    corn  now  grows  where  Troy  town  stood. 

It  was  almost  midnight  before  the  guests 
were  conducted  to  their  beds.  The  floors 
were   strewn   with   green   rushes,    while   the 


anb  gig  Jflerrp  jflen  93 

beds  were  spread  with  linen  that  had  lain  Further 

Adven- 

m  sweet  herbs.  tures  of 

Sir  Richard  wished  to  keep  his  guests  for  jl002 
several  days,  but  Robin  feared  that  Marian  a^fc^d 
might  think  some  harm  had  befallen  him  if  °f  the 
he   stayed  longer  than   he  must.     So  next 
morning  they  set  off  early,  Little  John  riding 
on  a  mule  which  Sir  Richard  had  given  him. 
Sir    Richard    accompanied    them    down    the 
grassy  road  to  the  edge  of  the  woods.     Then 
he   bade  them  farewell,  and  watched  them 
as  they  made  off  down   the   Roman  road. 

When  Robin  was  out  of  sight  Sir  Richard 
turned  homeward,  but  no  sooner  had  he 
taken  the  first  steps  than  an  arrow  was  sent 
through  his  hat,  and  a  loud  voice  commanded 
him  to  halt.  Then  six  of  the  sheriff's  men 
ran  up  to  him  and  bound  his  hands  together. 

"If  we  cannot  take  Robin  Hood,"  they 
said,  "we  will  take  you  to  the  sheriff,  who 
will  punish  you  for  harboring  him." 

"Ah,  ha!  you  are  six  men,  and  yet  you  are 
afraid  to  attack  Robin  Hood!"  said  Sir 
Richard. 

Angrily  they  bade  him  keep  silence,  and 
led  him  off  in  the  direction  opposite  that 
which  Robin  had  taken. 


94  foobtn  j|oob 

Further      But   Sir   Richard's   wife  had   seen  it   all. 

tures  of  She    was    riding    her   white    mule    over   the 

Hood  grassy  road,   meaning  to  meet  Sir  Richard 

and  Sir  an(j  walk  home  with  him.     She  had  all  but 

Kichard 

of  the  reached  him  when  the  sheriff's  men  made 
their  attack.  The  lady  waited  till  they  were 
out  of  earshot.  Then  she  urged  her  white 
mule  down  the  Roman  road  after  Robin 
Hood,  and  it  was  not  long  before  she  had 
overtaken  him  and  told  him  her  plight. 

"And  now,  sir,  will  you  go  and  rescue  my 
good  lord?"  said  the  lady.  "For  if  once  he 
reaches  Nottingham,  the  sheriff  will  put 
him  in  a  dungeon,  and  never  again  will 
he  see  the  light  of  day."  Her  tears  fell  fast, 
and  she  clasped  her  hands  as  she  said:  "I 
know  I  am  asking  you  to  risk  your  life  for 
him,  but  did  he  not  risk  his  for  you,  in  giving 
you  shelter?" 

"Lady,  there  is  no  need  to  plead,"  said 
Robin.  "Gladly  we  go,  my  men  and  I. 
You  shall  see  your  good  lord  very  shortly." 

Robin  and  George-a-Green  and  Much  and 
the  rosy  Friar  Tuck  set  off  running  down  the 
Roman  road,  the  lady  and  Little  John  trot- 
ting behind  on  their  mules.  Little  John  did 
his   best   to   comfort  her,  but  he   was   not 


anb  3|te  ffltivy  Mm  95 

accustomed  to  speaking  to  ladies,  and  hardly  Further 
knew  what   to   say.     He   contented   himself  twes  of 
with  repeating  over  and  over  the  statement  j^Jj* 
that  Robin  Hood's  arm  was  the  stoutest  in  <™i1SirJ 
Nottinghamshire,    and   that   he   would   soon  of  the 
free  Sir  Richard. 

When  they  had  almost  overtaken  the 
sheriff's  men,  Robin  Hood  said  that  they  must 
skirt  through  the  forest  and  meet  their 
enemies  face  to  face. 

"In  that  way,"  he  said,  "we  and  they  are 
less  likely  to  harm  Sir  Richard." 

"Do  not  hurt  him,"  said  the  lady.  "Oh, 
perhaps  when  the  sheriff's  men  see  you,  they 
will  turn  and  slay  him!" 

"Nay,  they  will  not  see  us  soon  enough," 
said  Robin,  confidently.  "  Do  you  and  Little 
John  ride  slowly  along  the  road,  and  when  you 
see  us  springing  on  the  sheriff's  men,  urge 
your  mules  to  a  trot  and  come  up  to  us." 

Robin,  Friar  Tuck,  Much,  and  George-a- 
Green  slipped  into  the  forest.  After  what 
seemed  a  very  long  time  to  the  lady  and 
Little  John,  they  sprang  out  of  the  woods 
and  fell  upon  the  six  bowmen.  Then  Little 
John  struck  his  mule,  and  hurried  up,  with 
an  arrow  all  ready  to  shoot. 


96  &obm  %oob 

Further  By  the  time  the  sheriff's  men  had  recovered 
tures  of  from  their  surprise,  big  Much  had  dragged 

H™d  Sir  Richard  into  the  greenwood  and  untied 
and  Sir  jjjg  han(}s#     Then  he  rushed  back  and  helped 

of  the  Robin  and  Friar  Tuck  and  George-a-Green 

Lea  .  _,...  . 

to  engage  the  six  men.  By  this  time,  Little 
John  was  sending  arrows  at  the  enemy.  All 
six  of  them  were  soon  wounded  and  made 
prisoners. 

Robin  Hood  took  away  their  bows  and 
tied  their  hands  together. 

''Now,"  he  said,  "I  might  slay  you;  for 
you  have  tried  hard  to  make  an  end  of  me 
and  my  men.  Yet  you  were  only  obeying 
the  orders  of  your  lord,  the  sheriff,  and 
obedience  is  the  duty  of  every  true  man. 
So  I  give  you  your  freedom.  Go  back  to  the 
sheriff  and  tell  him  that  if  he  wishes  to  catch 
Robin  Hood  he  must  learn  a  better  way  than 
any  he  has  yet  tried." 

The  six  prisoners,  their  heads  hanging,  set 
off  slowly  toward  Nottingham.  Robin  Hood 
escorted  Sir  Richard  and  his  grateful  wife 
to  their  Castle  of  the  Lea.  Then  he  and  his 
men  began  their  journey  back  to  Maid 
Marian,  waiting  for  them  under  the  green- 
wood tree. 


attb  J?is  jWcrry  jffitm 


RobinHood 

AND  THE 

OrtalP*^ 


Chapter  VII 

ONE  day  Much,  the  miller's  son,  went  off 
on  a  solitary  hunting  excursion.  He 
wished  to  explore  a  distant  part  of  Sherwood 
Forest,  and  he  promised  to  return  with  some 
fine  venison.  He  came  back  in  the  afternoon, 
however,  empty-handed. 

"What  is  this?"  laughed  Little  John. 
"What  has  become  of  your  boasts? " 

Much  made  no  reply.  He  walked  grimly 
among  the  bowmen,  who  were  sitting  or  lying 
on  the  grass  of  the  clearing,  until  he  came  to 
Robin  Hood,  who  sat  under  his  tall  oak. 

"Master,"  said  Much,  with  a  black  frown, 
"do  you  know  that  you  are  not  the  only 
lord  of  Sherwood  Forest?" 

"Why  do  you  say  that,  Much?"  asked 
Robin,  mildly. 

97 


98  foofain  Hoob 

Robin  "Because  I  know  it  to  be  true.  I  fared 
and  the  forth  early  this  morning,  finding  many  a  new 
FHar  Pa"th  in  the  forest.  The  flowers  and  birds 
enticed  me,  and  I  made  more  than  one  new 
verse  as  I  walked  and  sang.  Soon  I  came 
almost  to  the  end  of  the  forest.  It  is  a  part 
not  far  from  Fountains  Abbey." 

"I  have  heard  of  it,"  said  Robin;  "but  I 
have  never  traveled  there." 

"Of  that  I  feel  sure,"  said  Much,  the 
miller's  son,  "else  the  Curtal  Friar  would  not 
be  there." 

"The  Curtal  Friar?"  inquired  Robin. 

"I  came  to  the  part  of  the  forest  of  which 
I  speak,"  weht  on  Much,  "and  there  lay  a 
broad  lake.  Sitting  by  the  edge  of  it  was  a 
Curtal  Friar.  He  was  as  big  as  Little  John, 
and  I  believe  him  to  be  as  strong." 

At  this,  Little  John  leaped  to  his  feet. 

"Lead  me  to  him,  and  I  will  show  you 
better!"  he  cried. 

"Patience,  John,"  said  Robin  Hood.  "Go 
on  with  your  story,  Much." 

"This  friar  paid  no  attention  to  me  till  I 
had  come  close  to  him,"  went  on  Much. 
"Then  he  asked  me  my  business." 

"  'I  am  out  for  a  day's  pleasuring,'  said  I. 


anb  gig  Jflerrp  jWen  99 

"  'Can  you  not  find  your  pleasure  in  some  Robin 
other  part  of  the  forest?'  he  asked.     'I  hold  and  the 
this  part,  and  I  do  not  care  to  have  strangers  pj%£ 
or  robbers  cross  this  water  of  mine  unless 
they  pay  me  a  heavy  fee ! ' 

"  'I  will  pay  you  no  fee,'  I  said,  'nor  am  I 
a  stranger  or  a  robber,  for  this  forest  is  the 
forest  of  my  master,  Robin  Hood. ' 

"  'Go  back  to  Robin  Hood,  your  master,' 
said  he,  'and  tell  him  that  if  he  ever  comes 
near  me  he  must  make  good  his  claim  by 
force.'  " 

"Is  that  all?"  Robin  asked. 

"Yes,"  replied  Much,  sulkily.  "I  came 
back  because  he  whipped  up  a  bow  from 
beside  him,  and  had  an  arrow  turned  on  me 
before  I  could  draw  my  own  bow." 

"Nay,  for  once  you  were  too  slow,  Much," 
said  Robin,  smiling.  "I  must  e'en  go  to  see 
this  Curtal  Friar.  He  will  be  an  interesting 
man  to  meet." 

"In  faith,  yes!  A  fighting  friar  always  is," 
said  Friar  Tuck,  fingering  his  long  bow. 

"May  I  go  with  you,  master?"  asked 
Little  John.  "I  would  fain  see  this  man  who 
is  as  big  as  I  am." 

"Nay,"  replied  Robin.     "I  must  go  alone; 


ioo  £otmt  l)oob 

2&>Wn  but  you  may  all  be  within  bugle  call,  as  is 

Hood  '  ,, 

and  the  your  WOIlt. 

pilar  Early  next  morning  Robin  Hood  set  out, 
carrying  with  him  his  best  bow,  a  heavy  sheaf 
of  arrows,  a  leather  shield,  and  a  bright 
sword.  It  was  almost  noon  before  he  reached 
the  lake  Much  had  described  as  lying  near 
Fountains  Abbey.  The  Curtal  Friar  sat  on 
the  shore,  his  bow  and  arrows  and  a  buckler 
by  his  side.  He  turned  his  head  and  stared 
for  a  moment  at  Robin.  Then  he  sprang  to 
his  feet,  bow  in  hand.  He  was,  as  Much  had 
said,  a  very  tall  man;  perhaps  not  quite  so 
huge  as  Little  John,  but  certainly  larger  than 
Robin. 

1 '  Ho,  stranger ! "  he  shouted.  ' '  What  would 
you  here?" 

"I  would  cross  that  water,"  Robin  replied. 

"I  do  not  permit  every  one  to  cross,"  said 
the  friar,  with  a  grim  smile;  "but  I  will  take 
you  over  if  you  will  pay  my  fee." 

"Whatever  you  ask,"  replied  Robin. 

He  looked  about  for  the  Curtal  Friar's  boat, 
but  none  was  to  be  seen. 

"Nay,  I  use  no  boat  in  my  ferrying,"  said 
the  friar.  "Up  on  my  shoulders,  man;  I  '11 
carry  you  over." 


anb  %te  ffltvty  JWen  101 

They  went  along  the  shore  till  they  came  Robin 
to  the  ford.     Then  Robin  mounted  on  the  and  the 
friar's   back,   holding   his   bow   in   his   right  ^\aar 
hand.     The  friar  lurched  a  little  under  his 
weight,  but  he  stepped  out  boldly  into  the 
water.     Nowhere  did  it  come  higher  than 
his  waist,  and  after  a  few  minutes  of  careful 
walking,    both    were    safe    on    the    opposite 
shore.     Through  a  break  in  the  trees,  Robin 
Hood  could  see  the  gray  walls  of  Fountains 
Abbey. 

" It  is  a  pretty  prospect  here,"  he  said.  "I 
must  go  closer  to  the  abbey." 

"Not  so  fast,"  said  the  friar;  "pay  me  my 
fee  first." 

"Gladly,"  said  Robin.  He  took  a  bag  of 
gold  from  his  doublet.     "What  is  the  fee?" 

"It  is  not  gold,"  replied  the  friar;  "but 
you  must  carry  me  back  over  the  stream  even 
as  I  carried  you.     That  is  my  fee." 

Robin  compressed  his  lips.     Then  he  said: 

"Such  was  the  agreement,  though  it  is  a 
strange  fee  you  ask,  and  one  I  did  not  expect. 
Mount,  then,  friar." 

The  friar  was  a  heavy  weight  for  Robin. 
With  the  first  step  he  took  he  staggered. 
He  was  the  more  impeded  because  he  was 


102  &obm  j|oob 

Robin  carrying  his  bow  lifted  above  the  water. 
and  the  He  managed  to  keep  his  footing,  however, 
cj?riar  Du"t  ^e  was  glad  to  reach  the  other  shore. 

After  he  had  put  down  the  friar  he  stood 
dizzily  for  a  few  moments.  Then  he  said, 
"So  much  for  your  fee,  Curtal  Friar;  I  will 
not  pay  another  such.  And  now  put  me 
across  again,  for  I  would  fain  see  Fountains 
Abbey." 

"Marry,  I  will  not,"  began  the  friar. 
Then  he  broke  off,  and  said,  "Well,  then, 
mount  again." 

Again  Robin  mounted,  careful  to  keep  his 
bow  out  of  the  water.  When  they  reached 
midstream  the  friar  coolly  shook  him  off. 

"Thus  far  you  go,"  he  said;  "for  I  have 
guessed  you  are  Robin  Hood.  Your  king- 
dom stops  in  the  midst  of  my  stream." 

Robin  said  no  word.  His  bow  was  still 
dry,  and  he  held  it  aloft  threateningly,  as  he 
waded  ashore.  The  Curtal  Friar,  too,  waded 
quickly  to  the  spot  where  he  had  left  his  bow 
and  arrows. 

They  scrambled  upon  the  shore  and  began 
to  shoot  at  each  other.  Robin  shot  first,  and 
the  friar  caught  the  arrow  on  his  buckler; 
then  the  friar  shot,  and  the  arrow  would  have 


anb  fots  ifJlerrp  jfflen 


103 


The  Friar 
was  a 
heavy 
weight  for 
Robin 


104  &obm  jfoob 

Robin  gone  to  Robin's  heart  had  he  not  warded  it 

and  the  off  with  his  shield.     Several  times  this  was 

prrlar  repeated,  until  each  saw  that  the  other  was 

no    mean    adversary.     They    shot    fast    and 

furiously,  till  their  arrows  were  all  gone. 

"And  now,  what  are  we  to  do?"  said  the 
friar.     "For  I  will  not  yield  you  an  inch." 

"Nor  I  you,"  said  Robin.  "Let  us  fight 
with  swords,  for  I  perceive  you  have  two 
lying  hid  in  that  green  bower  on  the  bank." 

"You  have  quick  eyes,"  said  the  friar. 
"The  swords,  then." 

They  set  to  with  the  swords,  and  sharp 
sparks  flew  from  the  clashing  steel.  Each 
was  so  skillful  that  the  other  could  not 
wound  him.  They  fought  and  fought  until 
their  blows  became  as  feeble  as  though  they 
were  fighting  with  straws. 

"Methinks  we  shall  fall  down  together," 
gasped  Robin,  ' '  with  the  victory  to  neither.  A 
boon,  friar,  and  I  will  grant  you  no  less." 

"What  is  your  boon?"  asked  the  friar. 

"Give  me  leave  to  blow  three  times  on  my 
bugle,"  answered  Robin,  and  he  leaned 
wearily  against  a  tree. 

"Ho,  you  would  summon  assistance!" 
said   the    Curtal    Friar.     "Then    so   will    I. 


anb  %Mg  ffittvy  jWen  Jo5 

Give  me  leave  to  whistle  three  times  after  Robin 
you  have  blown  your  bugle."  and  the 

"Agreed,"  said  Robin.  gg? 

He  set  his  bugle  to  his  mouth,  and  blew 
three  blasts.  Presently,  in  the  distance,  the 
friar  saw  fifty  bowmen,  clad  in  green,  running 
toward  him  with  their  bows  bent. 

"  Marry!  it  is  as  I  thought,"  he  said.  Then 
he  whistled  loudly  three  times.  Immediately, 
from  beyond  the  walls  of  Fountains  Abbey 
came,  leaping  and  barking,  fifty  large  black 
dogs. 

"See  you,  Robin,"  said  the  friar,  "I  have  a 
dog  for  every  one  of  your  men,  and  there  is 
still  myself  for  you." 

While  he  spoke,  the  great  dogs  were  swim- 
ming the  stream.  The  first  two  that  reached 
the  bank  leaped  at  Robin  Hood  and  tore  the 
doublet  of  Lincoln  green  from  his  back. 
But  Little  John  had  now  arrived  at  the  head 
of  the  fifty  bowmen,  and  he  killed  one  dog, 
while  Robin  killed  the  other. 

The  other  men  shot  at  the  rest  of  the  dogs, 
but  what  was  their  amazement  to  see  the 
dogs  leap  and  catch  the  arrows  in  their 
mouths ! 

"See   you,    Robin,"    said    the   friar;  "my 


IQ6  3&otun  3|oob 

Robin  dogs  have  been  trained.     Some  of  them  you 

Hood  .  . 

and  the  may  indeed  succeed  in  killing,  but  not  all." 
FHar  "Nay,  we  can  soon  tire  out  your  dogs," 
said  Little  John,  and  he  lifted  his  bow. 

"Stop!"  said  Robin  Hood.  "Hold  your 
arrows,  my  men ;  and  do  you  keep  back  your 
dogs,  Curtal  Friar." 

They  did  as  they  were  bidden,  and  then 
Robin  said: 

"It  were  a  pity  that  you  and  I  should  be 
enemies,  Curtal  Friar.  Tell  me  why  you 
guard  so  carefully  this  stream." 

"There  are  many  robbers  who  have  come 
to  Fountains  Abbey  and  taken  our  gold  and 
food,"  said  the  friar.  "I  found  that  my  only 
safety  lay  in  keeping  these  dogs  to  help  me 
guard  this  ford." 

"Yet  why  did  you  attack  me?"  said 
Robin  Hood.  "You  know  that  I  am  the 
king  of  Sherwood  Forest.  Why  should  not 
I  pass  and  see  Fountains  Abbey  if  I  wish?" 

"I  will  not  let  you  rob  the  abbey,"  said 
the  friar,  sturdily. 

"Nay,  then,  I  would  not  rob  it,"  replied 
Robin;  "I  never  take  money  unjustly, 
friar." 

"I  hear  many  tales  against  you,"  said  the 


anb  j|ig  Jtlerrp  jfflen  107 

friar.     "You  are  an  outlaw,  and  there  is  a  Robin 

*  1  , ,  Hood 

price  upon  your  head.  owd  /&. 

"There  are  many  false  reports  in  the  p^f 
world,"  Robin  Hood  said.  "I  am  an  outlaw, 
but  I  am  not  an  evildoer.  I  am  more  likely 
to  give  you  alms  for  the  poor  that  come  to 
Fountains  Abbey  than  I  am  to  take  anything 
from  you." 

"Then  let  us  hold  the  forest  in  peace 
together,"  said  the  friar.     "  Make  the  terms." 

"In  truth,  peace  is  better  than  war," 
said  Robin.  "Friar,  give  my  men  leave  to 
cross  this  stream  whenever  they  will,  pro- 
vided always  they  pay  you  a  fee  of  dried 
meat." 

"Agreed,"  said  the  friar. 

"Furthermore,  pay  me  a  broad  gold  piece 
every  month,  and  I  will  give  you  as  often 
a  fat  buck  for  your  poor." 

"Agreed,"  repeated  the  friar. 

"And  when  you  come  to  my  retreat  in  the 
greenwood,"  said  Robin,  "there  will  always 
be  a  warm  welcome  for  you  from  Marian 
and  me,  as  well  as  from  all  my  men." 

"And  for  you,"  said  the  friar,  bowing, 
"the  doors  of  Fountains  Abbey  will  be  thrown 
wide." 


io8 


3&obin  ^oob 


Robin      At  that,  they  all  parted  the  best  of  friends, 
and  the  and  Robin  and  his  men  went  back,  laughing 
Cprrfa\  and  singing,  to  the  greenwood: 


Jog  on,  jog 
Your  pal  -  try 
Cast  care   a  - 


on      the 
mon  -  ey 
way, 


let 


foot  ■ 
bags 
sor    • 


path  way,    And 
of    gold,   What 
row   cease,    A 


mer-ri-ly  take  the  stile-a;  Your  mer-ry  heart  goes 
need  have  we  to  stare  for;  When  lit-tle  or  noth-ing 
fig  for  mel  -  an  -  chol  -  y ;  Let's  laugh  and  sing,  or, 
-V  i 


PT 


n 


s> 


s 


all  the  day;  Your  sad  tires  in  a  mile  -  a. 
soon  is  told,  And  we  have  the  less  to  care  for. 
if    you  please, We'll  frol  -  ic  with  sweet  Dol  -  ly. 


anb  3|ig  ffltvvy  Mm 


|\Robin  Hood  and  the 
Widows  T>iREE  Sons 


Chapter  VIII 

ROBIN  HOOD  and  his  men  were  prac- 
ticing archery  one  day,  near  the  Roman 
road,  when  they  heard  the  sound  of  weeping. 
They  peeped  through  the  trees  and  saw  a 
tall  woman  clad  in  black  like  a  widow, 
sobbing  and  wringing  her  hands.  Robin 
Hood  hastened  to  her. 

"Prithee,  madam,"  he  said,  "why  do  you 
weep?     Tell  me,  that  I  may  help  you." 

"Alas,  alas!"  said  the  woman.  "I  am 
beyond  help.  I  weep  for  my  three  sons  to 
be  hanged  this  day  at  Nottingham  by  order 
of  the  sheriff." 

"What  have  they  done?  Have  they  harmed 
some  defenseless  person  or  robbed  the  poor?" 
he  asked. 

"No,  no;  they  are  good  sons,"  said  the 
109 


no  Eobtn  j^oob 

Robin  widow,  sadly,  "so  good  that  so  far  the  sheriff 
and  the  has   found  no   one  in   all   Nottingham   who 

Wi Three  is   willing   to   hang   them." 

Sons  "But  what  have  they  done?"  repeated 
Robin. 

"They  are  three  young  squires  who  have 
been  followers  of  Robin  Hood,  the  outlaw, 
and  they  were  taken  last  night  for  killing 
the  king's  deer." 

"What!"  cried  Robin  Hood,  "are  three 
of  my  good  bowmen  taken?  But  comfort 
yourself,  madam,  for  hanged  they  shall 
never  be  while  I  live.  Go  you  to  Notting- 
ham town.  Ere  long  you  shall  embrace 
your  sons." 

"  Nay,  do  not  give  me  idle  hopes,"  wept  the 
widow. 

"I  speak  the  truth,"  he  said.  "Go  you 
to  Nottingham  town,  and  have  no  fear.  I 
am  Robin  Hood,  and  I  will  save  these  my 
men." 

He  bowed  hastily  and  walked  into  the 
forest,  where  he  consulted  with  Friar  Tuck, 
Little  John,  Much,  and  George-a-Green.  As 
they  were  speaking  they  saw  an  old,  ragged 
beggar  coming  down  the  road,  tapping  trem- 
blingly with  his  stick. 


attb  %Ha  iHerrp  jffleit 


in 


"See,"    said   Robin   Hood,    "there   is   the  Robin 
beggar's  raiment  I  must  needs  have  if  I  am  and  the 
to  carry  out  my  plan.     I  pray  you,  my  good  Three" 
men,  come  after  me  to  Nottingham  town."    Sons 

Robin  hurried  to  the  old  man. 

"I  pray  you,  good  father,"  he  said, 
''exchange  clothes  with  me  as  quickly  as 
you  can." 

"Nay,  do  not  make  game  of  an  old  man," 
said  the  beggar.  "My  clothes  are  patched 
and  torn,  while  yours  are  whole." 

"Nevertheless,  let  us  change,"  said  Robin. 
"I  am  in  earnest.  To  prove  that  I  speak  the 
truth,  I  give  you  this  broad  gold  piece." 

The  old  man  looked  at  the  coin  suspi- 
ciously, but  when  he  saw  that  it  was  good 
gold  he  began  fumblingly  to  take  off  his 
clothes.  They  were  indeed  patched  from 
hose  to  mantle,  with  many  colors  and  quali- 
ties of  cloth.  The  hat  was  a  large  gray  one, 
which  came  well  down  over  the  eyes.  Then 
there  was  a  bag  for  meal,  one  for  salt,  one 
for  barley  and  corn,  one  for  bread,  and  one 
for  beef.  Last  of  all,  Robin  put  his  silver 
horn  and  four  sharp  knives  inside  the  worn 
doublet. 

Then  he  set  off  quickly  down  the  Roman 


112 


Bobm  j|oob 


"Nay,  do 

not  make 

game  of 

an  old 


attb  gig  ffltvxy  Mm  "3 

road  for  Nottingham.     Far  ahead,  he  could  Robin 
make  out  the  figure  of  the  widow,  hurrying  and  the 
to  see  her  sons  saved.     On  the  way  many  Yhr°eWS 
people  joined  him,  going  to  see  the  hanging  Sons 
of  the  poor  youths. 

"It  will  be  a  sin  and  a  shame  if  those  good 
young  men  have  to  die,"  they  said,  "and 
only  for  killing  of  the  deer  which  should  be 
free  to  all  men." 

Robin  Hood  listened  to  their  words,  but 
he  made  no  remark  himself.  As  he  walked 
beside  the  forest,  his  sharp  ears  heard  a 
slight  continuous  rustling,  and  he  knew  it  was 
his  merry  men  marching  among  the  trees, 
ready  to  obey  whatever  orders  he  might  give. 

When  he  reached  Nottingham,  Robin 
followed  the  crowd  to  the  great  square 
where  once  he  had  shot  so  wonderfully. 
In  the  center  of  it  was  built  a  high  gallows. 
On  the  platform  of  this  stood  the  three  young 
squires,  their  hands  and  feet  bound,  above 
each  head  a  noose  dangling.  They  looked 
pale  but  brave. 

"Only  last  night  they  were  free,"  thought 
Robin.  "  They  supped  with  me  in  the  green- 
wood. Marry,  and  to-night  they  shall  be 
free  again!     I  wish  they  knew  it." 


:i4  &ojnn  l)oob 

i?okw      A  pavilion  had  been  erected  behind  the 

Hood        1t  . 

a^  the  gallows,  and  m  this  sat  the  Lord  Sheriff.  He 
% ThrL  looked  about  the  crowd  anxiously.  Then  he 
Sons  beckoned  to  a  herald  who  stood  on  the  steps 
of  the  pavilion. 

"Come  hither,"  he  said.  "Sound  again 
my  demand." 

The  herald  blew  his  brass  trumpet. 

"Hear  ye!"  he  cried.  "The  most  noble 
the  Lord  High  Sheriff  of  Nottingham  demands 
that  some  loyal  subject  of  the  king  come 
forward  and  offer  himself  as  hangman  to 
these  three  traitors  who  have  slain  the  king's 
deer." 

For  a  moment  no  one  made  any  response. 
Then  Robin  Hood  stepped  forward. 

"Stop  him,"  said  some  one  in  the  crowd; 
"do  not  let  any  one  hang  these  three  young 
squires." 

Several  tried  to  lay  hands  on  Robin,  but 
he  slipped  away  from  all  of  them,  and  reached 
the  steps  of  the  pavilion. 

"You  are  a  loyal  old  man,"  said  the  sheriff, 
as  Robin  stood  before  him  with  head  and 
shoulders  bent,  and  hat  pulled  well  down 
over  his  face.  "Do  you  think  you  are  strong 
enough  to  hang  these  traitors?" 


anb  %ig  Jflerrp  JKen  115 

"I    could    hang    thirty    traitors    without  Robin 
growing  weary,"  said  Robin,  grimly.  and  the 

"  Then  you  will  be  my  hangman?  "  ^lhf°fs 

"What  will  you  give  me?"  asked  Robin.    Sons 
"Thirty  pence,  which  is  the  regular  hang- 
man's fee,  and  all  the  clothes  of  these  three 
traitors." 

The  poor  widow  heard  the  words  and 
uttered  a  loud  cry  of  despair.  She  had 
trusted  in  the  word  of  Robin  Hood,  but  where 
was  he?  How  could  he  keep  this  old  beggar 
man  from  hanging  her  sons?  The  people 
crowded  against  the  scaffold,  muttering  an- 
grily against  the  old  man. 

"Lord  Sheriff,"  said  Robin  Hood,  in  a 
high,  broken  voice.  "I  prithee  send  a  guard 
with  me  to  the  foot  of  the  gallows,  else  the 
people  will  tear  me  in  pieces." 

Half  a  dozen  of  the  sheriff's  men  led  Robin 
Hood  to  the  gallows. 

"Now  go  back,"  said  Robin,  "and  stand 
close  about  your  Lord  Sheriff.  It  seems  to 
me  that  he  will  need  help  ere  long." 

The  guards  went  back  to  the  pavilion,  and 
Robin  stood  alone  by  the  three  young  squires. 
"Fear  nothing,"  he  whispered.     "It  is  I, 
my  brave  lads;  I  will  save  you." 


n6  foobm  l)oob 

7?o6t«      He  went  close  to  each  one,  pretending  to 

Hood         .  7 

and  the  adjust    the    nooses    about    their    necks.     In 

1  Three  doing  so,  he  slipped  a  knife  inside  the  doublet 

Sons  Qf  eac]1#     Then  he  went  the  rounds  again, 

pretending  to  tighten  the  ropes  about  their 

hands  and  feet,  but  in  reality  cutting  them. 

"Oh,  ha,ve  mercy,  and  kill  them  quickly, 
if  kill  them  you  must!"  wept  the  widow. 

"My  Lord  Sheriff,"  pleaded  a  man  in  the 
crowd,  "let  those  men  go  free.  I  myself 
will  be  surety  that  they  will  kill  no  more 
deer." 

"Hold  your  peace!"  thundered  the  sheriff. 
"You  know  well  that  these  are  the  men  of 
Robin  Hood,  the  wicked  outlaw  who  glories 
in  destroying  the  property  of  the  king." 

"Nay,  Robin  Hood  is  kind,"  said  the  man. 
"If  you  send  these  young  squires  back  to 
him,  he  will  do  the  town  some  great  kindness 
in  return." 

"Arrest  that  man!"  shouted  the  sheriff. 
"He  who  dares  to  oppose  my  will  shall  be 
thrust  into  prison." 

While  the  guards  were  searching  for  the 
man  among  the  crowd,  Robin  took  his  bugle 
from  his  doublet.  In  the  confusion,  no  one 
knew  who  it  was  who  blew  three  shrill  blasts. 


anb  %fe  ffltxxy  jWen  117 

"What  sound  was  that?"  cried  the  sheriff,  Robin 
turning  to  the  herald.  and  the 

"  My  lord,  I  do  not  know,"  the  man  replied.  S"'5 

"A  requiem  for  the  souls  of  these  three  Sons 
men,  perhaps,"  shouted  Robin  Hood. 

"Get  about  your  work  quickly,  old  man," 
said  the  sheriff;  "else  shall  you  forfeit  the 
thirty  pence  and  receive  thirty  lashes." 

As  he  spoke,  up  the  main  street  came  the 
quick  tramp,  tramp,  of  two  hundred  feet, 
and  Robin  Hood's  bowmen  poured  into  the 
square.  Their  long  gray-goose  shafts  were 
all  ready  to  shoot,  and  the  Lord  Sheriff  felt 
as  though  each  shaft  were  aimed  at  his  heart. 
At  the  same  moment,  while  all  eyes  were 
turned  upon  the  bowmen,  Robin  Hood  and 
the  three  squires  leaped  from  the  platform 
of  the  gallows.  The  friendly  crowd  made  a 
path  for  them,  and  they  ran  to  join  the 
bowmen. 

Then  Robin  Hood  stood  at  their  head, 
drew  himself  up  to  his  full  height,  and  gazed 
at  the  Lord  Sheriff. 

"A  man's  life  is  worth  more  than  all  the 
deer  he  could  ever  shoot,"  he  said  sternly. 
"The  forest  and  the  food  in  the  forest  should 
be  free  to  all.     Look  at  me,   Lord  Sheriff; 


"8  &obm  j|oob 

Robin  I  am  Robin  Hood.  .  I  was  made  an  outlaw, 

and  the  and  I  have  made  myself  King  of  Sherwood 

1  Three  Forest.     I  offer  its  deer  to  all  the  good  people 

Sons  faQfQ    present.     Come,    whenever    it    pleases 

you,  and  shoot  in  my  kingdom." 

He  turned  and  made  a  gesture  to  his  men. 
They  all  backed  away  from  the  square,  their 
bows  lifted,  and  the  arrows  still  aimed  at 
the  Lord  Sheriff.  The  widow  walked  among 
her  sons,  weeping  for  joy. 

"Madam,"  said  Robin,  "dry  your  tears. 
Your  sons  will  be  safe  hereafter,  for  this 
incident  will  teach  them  not  to  be  careless. 
They  are  safe  so  long  as  they  stay  in 
Sherwood  Forest.  Come  home  with  us, 
madam,  and  my  Lady  Marian  will  show 
you  how  happy  a  life  can  be  led  in  the 
good  greenwood." 

But  the  widow  decided  to  return  again  to 
Nottingham.  She  bade  her  sons  a  loving 
farewell. 

"I  will  come  to  see  you  in  the  greenwood," 
she  said,  "but  you  must  never  again  travel 
out  from  the  forest.  You  are  certain  not  to 
come  to  harm  so  long  as  you  keep  close 
to  Robin  Hood." 

So  they  parted.     Robin  and  the  men  went 


anb  £t*  ffltvvvfflm 


119 


back  to  the  greenwood,  and  as  they  went,  Robin 
Much,  the  miller's  son,  who  had  been  teasing  and  the 
the  young  squires  about  what  he  called  their  Three* S 
travel  to  Nottingham  in  search  of  adventure,  Sons 
began  to  sing  this  song,  which  he  had  heard 
in  the  town: 


=N- 


-0—0- 


There  were  three  trav-el-ers,  trav-el-ers  three, With  a 

IN        I  PS        K       lS      IN       . 


hey  down,  ho    down,  lang  tree  down  der  -  ry,    And 

IN     >N 


A-- r 


*=* 


J— m m 0 *l 1 ' 1 — j m m »— 

9       9        9      -0-     -0-     -0-         -0-  -0r     -p-  9       * 

they  would  go  trav-el    the  North  Coun-try,    With-out 

IN      ,N   '    *        .         *        N 


'  They  traveled  east,  and  they  traveled  west, 

With  a  hey  down,  ho  down,  lang  tree  down  deny, 

Wherever  they  came,  still  they  drank  of  the  best, 
Without  ever  a  stiver  of  money. 


120 


Kolmi  l)oob 


Robin 

Hood 

and  the 

Widow's 

Three 

Sons 


"At  length  by  good  fortune  they  came  to  a  .1  inn, 

With  a  hey  down,  ho  down,  lang  tree  down  deny, 
And  they  were  as  merry  as  e'er  they  had  been, 
Without  ever  a  stiver  of  money. 

"Then  taking  their  leaves  they  went  merrily  out, 

With  a  hey  down,  ho  down,  lang  tree  down  derry, 
And  they  're  gone  for  to  travel  the  nation  about 
Without  ever  a  stiver  of  money." 


anb  ?|ta  ffltvvp  jfflen 


Chapter  IX 

A  FEW  days  after  their  adventures  with 
the  sheriff's  men,  Robin  Hood  and 
Little  John  were  standing  on  the  Roman 
road,  wondering  how  they  should  spend  the 
day.  Presently  they  heard  the  rumble  of 
wheels  and  the  sound  of  loud  singing.  They 
turned  around  and  saw  a  potter  driving  a 
cart  full  of  earthen  pots  of  all  sizes. 

"This  fellow  has  no  fear,"  said  Robin  Hood. 
"Every  week  he  goes  singing  down  the  road 
as  if  there  were  no  outlaws  in  the  forest." 

"He  is  perfectly  honest,"  said  Little  John, 
"and  he  has  no  doubt  heard  that  we  do  not 
stop  honest  men.  Yet,  master,  give  me  leave 
to  have  sport  with  him." 

"Take  your  will,  Little  John,"  said  Robin 
Hood. 


122  &obm  l)ooti 

RoUn      When   the   potter   came   up,    Little   John 

Hood        .  ..    ,       1   . 

and  the  said  to  him : 
Potter      "Ho,  potter,  stop  your  cart,  and  pay  us  a 
toll.     We  are  no  longer  going  to  let  you  ride 
free  on  our  road." 

"Marry,  you  may  whistle  for  your  toll!" 
shouted  the  potter.     "Get  up,  Dobbin." 

"We  are  two  to  one,"  said  Little  John, 
"and  two  big  men,  at  that." 

"The  biggest  does  not  always  win,"  re- 
torted the  potter,  cheerfully. 

He  jumped  down  from  his  cart,  and  took 
his  great  staff  in  his  right  hand. 

"Come,  now,"  he  said,  "I  challenge  one 
of  you  to  a  play  with  the  staff." 

Robin  Hood  stepped  forward. 

1 '  Ready,  my  brave  fellow, ' '  he  said.  ' '  Have 
at  you." 

Then  the  two  began  to  strike  at  each  other, 
but  both  were  skillful  at  the  play,  and  parried 
each  other's  blows.  At  last  the  potter  struck 
Robin  on  the  wrist,  and  sent  his  staff  spinning 
from  his  hand. 

"Well  done,  my  man,"  said  Robin.  "Shall 
we  go  on  fighting?" 

"Nay,"  said  the  potter,  "for  I  see  you  are 
a  man  whom,  in  the  end,  I  cannot  beat.     I 


anb  His?  JWerrp  Jfflen  123 

should  spend  the  morning  here,  and  then  who  Robin 
would  sell  my  pots?     I  bid  you  good  day."  and  the 

"Nay,   then,"   said  Robin,   "let  me  take  Potter 
your  clothes  and  sell  your  pots,  and  do  you 
stay  here  with  Little  John  and   my  other 
men,    and  feast   on   venison." 

The  potter  smiled. 

"Faith,  I  never  tasted  venison  in  my  life," 
he  said;  "but  do  you  know  how  to  sell  pots? 
Perhaps  you  will  sell  them  too  cheap." 

"Have  no  fear,"  replied  Robin,  "when  I 
return  I  shall  give  you  whatever  money  you 
ask  for  your  wares." 

"Then  strip  off  your  green  clothes  and 
take  my  rags,"  said  the  potter.  "Faith,  't  is 
many  a  day  since  I  had  a  whole  doublet!" 

His  woolen  doublet  was  indeed  torn  and 
soiled,  his  stockings  full  of  holes,  and  his 
shoes  cut.  When  Robin  was  dressed  in 
these  garments  no  one  would  ever  have 
dreamed  that  he  was  the  great  outlaw.  He 
leaped  into  the  cart,  and  drove  gayly  down 
the  road  till  he  reached  the  edge  of  Notting- 
ham town.  Then  he  made  the  horse  go  very 
slowly,  crying  loudly: 

"Pots!  pots!  Who  will  buy  my  pots? 
Very  cheap  pots!" 


124 


&oftttt  Jloob 


"Three- 
pence a 
pot', 
three- 
pence!" 


anb  j|ig  ffltxvy  Mm  I25 

The  women  came  from  the  little  houses —  Robin 
mothers  with  babies  in  their  arms,  and  old  and  the 
women — all    eager    to    ask  his    price.     But    otter 
Robin  answered  none  of  them  till  he  reached 
the    sheriff's    great    house.     Then    he    said: 
' '  Threepence  a  pot !  threepence ! ' ' 

The  women  looked  at  one  another. 

"The  potter  will  not  thrive  long  at  his 
trade,"  they  whispered.  "Never  before  were 
such  pots  sold  for  less  than  fivepence." 

Buyers  came  from  all  about,  and  Robin 
did  a  thriving  trade.  From  the  corner  of  his 
eye  he  caught  a  glimpse  of  ths  sheriff's  wife 
peeping  at  him  from  a  window.  At  last  he 
had  sold  all  the  pots  but  five. 

"These  are  not  for  sale,"  he  said.  "These 
I  give  as  a  present  to  the  sheriff's  wife." 

Some  one  told  this  to  one  of  the  sheriff's 
maidservants,  and  she  came  out  and  carried 
the  five  pots  in  to  her  mistress.  Then  she 
returned  and  said  that  the  sheriff's  wife  was 
pleased  with  the  present,  and  would  be  glad 
to  give  Robin  his  dinner. 

Robin  quickly  tied  his  horse,  and  went 
inside.  The  maidservant  took  him  into  the 
kitchen,  where  she  spread  a  meal  of  black 
bread,  cheese,  and  cakes. 


i26  &obin  j|oob 

Robin      While  he  was  eating,  the  sheriff's  wife  came 

Hood  .  ,         ,  . 

and  the  into  the  kitchen,  bne  was  a  stout,  pretty 
otter  lady,  with  dancing  black  eyes.  Her  father 
had  been  a  peasant,  and  she  liked  to  slip  into 
the  kitchen  and  talk  to  the  peasants  who 
came  to  see  her  servants.  But  the  sheriff 
preferred  that  she  should  sit  in  the  main 
hall,  and  have  nothing  to  do  with  people  of 
low  rank. 

Robin  liked  her,  and  they  soon  fell  into 
pleasant  talk.  Then  she  went  to  the  sher- 
iff, who  sat  at  work  in  his  countingroom, 
and  told  him  that  the  potter  was  a  good 
talker. 

"Bring  him  to  me,"  said  the  sheriff. 

So  Robin  went  from  the  kitchen  to  the 
countingroom,  and  began  to  tell  stories  of 
adventure  to  the  sheriff.  At  last  he  led  the 
talk  to  the  subject  of  archery.  At  that  the 
sheriff's  face  grew  grim. 

"My  lord  has  had  a  misadventure  with 
archery  of  late,"  laughed  the  sheriff's  wife. 

Then  she  told  Robin  Hood  the  story  he 
knew  so  well,  about  himself  and  his  three 
followers. 

"It  was  good  shooting,  nevertheless,"  said 
the  sheriff. 


anb  His;  ffltvvy  fflm  127 


"In  faith,  it  is  not  difficult  to  shoot  well,"  Robin 
said  Robin  Hood,  carelessly.  and  the 


"Can  you  shoot,  fellow,  that  you  talk  so 
freely?"  asked  the  sheriff. 

"Assuredly,"  said  Robin  Hood. 

"Prove  it  to  me,"  said  the  sheriff.  "I  will 
take  you  to  the  square  where  the  contest  was 
held,  and  you  shall  shoot.'-' 

When  they  had  left  the  house,  and  the 
sheriff's  horse  had  been  brought  him,  Robin 
saw  that  the  sheriff's  lady  was  still  standing 
in  the  great  entrance. 

"Are  you  not  coming,  my  lady?"  he 
asked. 

"Nay,"  she  said,  "I  have  no  palfrey;  I 
must  e'en  stay  at  home." 

Robin  thought  it  was  strange  that  a  man 
with  so  many  horses  as  the  sheriff  must  have, 
did  not  provide  a  proper  palfrey  for  his 
wife.  He  kept  his  thoughts  to  himself, 
however,  and  drove  behind  the  sheriff  till 
they  reached  the  square.  Then  he  got  down 
and  took  his  bow  and  arrows  from  the  bot- 
tom of  the  cart.  He  shot  straight  into  the 
bull's-eye. 

"Verily,  you  shoot  as  well  as  the  strangers 
did  who   outwitted   me   here    last   month," 


Potter 


128  &ot)tn  l)ooti 

UoWn  said   the    sheriff.     "Who  are  you,   fellow?" 

and  the      "A  man  who  has  a  little  skill  in  shooting," 

Potter  replied  Robin.     "But  one  could  hardly  miss 

with  this  bow.     Robin  Hood  put  it  into  this 

cart  this  very  morning." 

"What!"  shouted  the  sheriff.  "Do  you 
know  Robin  Hood?" 

"As  well  as  I  know  myself,"  replied  Robin. 

The  sheriff's  fierce  face  grew  crimson. 

"I  want  to  see  that  man,"  he  said;  "I 
must  know  what  he  looks  like.  Can  you 
bring  me  to  him?" 

"Do  you  mean  that  you  wish  to  capture 
him?"  asked  Robin. 

"Yes;  and  yet,  if  you  lead  me  to  him 
now  with  a  company  of  my  men,  he  and  his 
bowmen  will  hear  them  coming  through  the 
greenwood.     I  do  not  want  that." 

"Then  what  do  you  want?"  asked  Robin 
Hood. 

"  I  want  to  see  his  face  so  that  I  shall  know 
him  if  ever  we  meet  in  Nottingham  town. 
I  do  not  doubt  that  he  will  attempt  to  meet 
me  single-handed,  as  he  has  before.  I  want 
to  be  sure  that  I  am  capturing  the  great 
outlaw,  and  none  other." 

"So  your  plan  is  to  go  alone  with  me  to 


anb  ?|te  ffltttp  Mm  129 

the  greenwood  to  see  Robin  Hood?"   asked  Robin 

-p,    1  .  Hood 

KODin.  and  the 

"Yes,  but  I  do  not  want  him  to  see  me,"  Fotter 
said  the  sheriff. 

"I  do  not  think  I  can  promise  that,"  said 
Robin  Hood. 

The  sheriff  looked  at  him  doubtfully. 

"You  can  trust  me,  however,"  went  on 
Robin;  "I  will  answer  for  your  life  with  my 
own.  If  Robin  Hood's  men  kill  you,  they 
shall  kill  me,  also." 

"Then,  if  I  can  count  on  your  loyalty,  I 
will  go  with  you  in  the  morning,"  said  the 
sheriff.  "We  two  are  strong  enough  to  over- 
come Robin  Hood  should  we  chance  to  meet 
him  alone." 

They  went  back  to  the  sheriff's  house,  and 
Robin  Hood  spent  the  rest  of  the  afternoon 
talking  to  the  sheriff's  lady.  After  supper 
he  went  at  once  to  bed,  and  slept  soundly 
till  the  morning.  When  he  and  the  sheriff 
were  ready  to  set  out,  he  took  leave  of  the 
sheriff's  wife. 

"I  thank  you  for  your  hospitality,  lady," 
he  said,  "and  I  beg  you  to  accept  this  red- 
gold  ring  as  a  sign  of  my  friendship." 

She  slipped  it  on  her  plump  finger. 


130  Eobtn  jtoob 

Robin      "A  gold  ring  and  five  fine  pots!"  she  said. 

and  the  "  Indeed,   potter,  you  are  as  generous  as  if 

Potter  yQU  were  an  earim     J  trust  that  some  day  you 

will  be  requited  for  your  kindness." 

Robin  Hood  and  the  sheriff  rode  out  of 
Nottingham  and  then  down  the  straight 
road  to  Sherwood  Forest.  Robin  related 
many  a  story  and  sang  many  a  song  to  please 
the  sheriff,  who  said  that  the  ride  seemed 
very  short. 

"Faith,  the  rest  of  the  day  will  seem  long 
enough  to  you,"  said  Robin. 

"What  do  you  mean?"  asked  the  sheriff. 

"You  will  find  my  meaning  in  Sherwood 
Forest,"  answered  Robin.  "Turn  in  here, 
my  lord." 

The  sheriff  paused. 

"Do  you  mean  treachery,  fellow?" 

"Nay,"  said  Robin,  jumping  from  the 
cart.  "I  have  passed  my  word  that  you 
shall  be  safe." 

He  put  his  hand  on  the  bridle  of  the  sheriff's 
horse,  and  held  him.  Then  he  brought  his 
silver  bugle  from  inside  his  doublet,  and 
blew  a  loud,  clear  blast.  Immediately,  Little 
John,  the  potter,  and  a  score  of  bowmen 
ran  from  the  greenwood. 


anb  %Ma  ffltvvp  Jflen  131 

"Hey!"  cried  the  potter.     "Here  come  my  Robin 
clothes  and  my  empty  cart."  and  the 

"Dear  master,"    cried   Little   John,    "can Potter 
this  be  the  Sheriff  of  Nottingham?" 

"It  is,"  said  Robin  Hood.  "But  I  have 
sworn  that  he  shall  come  to  no  harm  among 
us.  I  have  said  that  I  will  answer  for  his 
life  with  my  own." 

Little  John  frowned. 

' '  The  wound  in  my  leg  that  his  men  made 
is  still  painful,"  he  grumbled.  "  Master,  is  he 
not  to  pay  for  that  ? ' ' 

"Nay,  John,"  said  Robin  Hood,  "this 
man  is  our  guest  for  the  day.  I  have  taken 
food  in  his  house;  he  shall  dine  safely  in  my 
greenwood." 

The  sheriff  was  looking  anxiously  from  one 
to  another. 

"Release  me,"  he  stammered.,  "I  com- 
mand you!     I  am  lord  of  this  shire." 

"But  I  am  lord  of  this  forest,"  returned 
the  great  outlaw;  "for  I  am  Robin  Hood,  the 
man  you  wished  to  see." 

The  sheriff  stared  at  him  helplessly. 

"I  am  going  now  to  put  on  my  own 
garments,"  said  Robin.  "Then  I  shall 
sit   opposite   you    at   dinner,    my   lord,    and 


i32  &obht  jfoob 

Robin  you  can  take  your  fill  of  gazing  at  me." 
and  the  Little  John  and  George-a- Green  led  the 
otier  sheriff,  blindfolded,  to  the  grassy  clearing, 
where  Marian  greeted  them.  She  was  very 
courteous  to  the  sheriff*,  but  he  was  so  angry 
and  afraid  that  he  could  scarcely  reply  to 
her. 

Soon  a  great  dinner  was  spread.  The 
sheriff  saw  haunch  after  haunch  of  the  king's 
venison,  which  he  was  supposed  to  protect. 
He  saw  the  king's  pheasants  and  partridges 
and  plovers.  Robin  Hood  urged  him  to 
eat,  but  he  could  take  only  a  few  scant 
mouthfuls. 

After  dinner  Robin  bade  his  archers  set  up 
a  mark;  and  then  he  showed  the  sheriff 
what  perfect  marksmen  they  all  were. 

"You  see,  my  lord,"  he  said,  "that  we  can 
protect  ourselves.  If  you  should  come  to 
the  greenwood  with  a  company  of  soldiers, 
you  know  what  you  would  meet  with." 

The  sheriff  made  no  reply.  He  was  very 
angry,  and  yet  he  could  not  help  admiring 
the  fine  shooting. 

In  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  Robin  took 
him  back  to  the  clearing.  The  potter  ran 
after  them. 


anb  SMa  ffltxvy  JWen  133 

"Hold,   Robin  Hood,"  he  said;  "the  day  Robin 

. .  „  .         Hood 

is  going.     I  must  get  home  to  my  wile.     Give  and  the 
me  the  money  for  the  pots." 

"What  were  they  worth?"  asked  Robin 
Hood. 

"A  good  pound  of  gold,"  said  the  potter, 
"and  I  hope  you  will  give  me  all  of  it,  though 
I  am  willing  to  pay  for  the  good  cheer  I  have 
had  with  your  men." 

"You  shall  not  pay  for  that,"  replied 
Robin,  "for  you  were  a  welcome  guest.  Tell 
Little  John  to  give  you,  from  our  treasury, 
not  only  one  pound,  but  ten.  And  now  fare- 
well, potter;  remember  that  you  are  welcome 
here  whenever  you  choose  to  come  as  a 
friend." 

The  potter  took  off  his  hat. 

"I  am  proud  to  be  the  friend,  however 
humble,  of  Robin  Hood,"  he  said.  "Fare 
you  well,  my  lord." 

"Farewell,"  said  the  sheriff. 

"Marry,"  laughed  the  potter,  "I  did  not 
call  you  '  lord' !  I  spoke  to  Robin  Hood.  To 
my  mind,  that  man  is  a  lord  who  shows  him- 
self best  in  wit  and  in  strength  of  body. 
Farewell  again,  my  Lord  Robert,  Earl  of 
Huntington." 


i34  Kotjtn  goob 

Robin  "Only  Robin  Hood  of  the  green  forest," 
and  the  said  the  outlaw  simply.  "Farewell,  potter." 
1  '  ' "       Then  Robin  Hood  turned  to  the  sheriff. 

"Your  horse  is  ready,  my  lord,  and  you 
have  my  leave  to  go." 

Little  John  came  up,  leading  a  white  pal- 
frey. 

"  But  where  is  my  horse? "  asked  the  sheriff. 

"You  will  ride  home  on  this,"  said  Robin 
Hood.  "I  have  exchanged  it  for  your  horse. 
Your  good  lady  has  no  palfrey,  and  you  have 
more  horses  than  you  need." 

The  sheriff  was  angrier  than  ever.  He 
said  never  a  word,  but  as  Robin  blindfolded 
his  eyes  he  thought:  "Five  pots,  a  ring,  and 
a  white  palfrey!  My  wife  has  profited  by 
this  adventure." 

He  mounted  the  palfrey,  and  then  Robin 
Hood  led  him  through  a  maze  of  paths  into 
the  road. 

"Farewell,  sir,"  he  said.  "I  think  you 
will  hardly  find  your  way  back  to  our  haunts. 
Give  greetings  to  your  lady  from  me." 

The  sheriff  made  no  reply.  He  only  urged 
the  white  palfrey  to  a  trot.  As  he  hurried 
down  the  Roman  road  in  a  cloud  of  dust, 
Much,  the  miller's  son,  sang  this  song  after 


anb  %ta  ffltvty  Jfflen 


135 


him,  George-a-Green  whistling  the  tune  with  Robin 
all  his  might :  <™d  the 

&  Potter 


.a 


3=5 


^ 


jGL 


-& 


7g S>" 


(S-- 


"NowRob-in,    lend  to       me    thy    bow,  Sweet 


i 


-fS>- 


^2 (2 


IE 


:c2_ 


^ 


2Z 


^ 


Rob  -   in, 


lend 


to      me       thy       bow,     For 


i 


0— w 


-0-T& 


F=F=I= 


I     must  now    a  -  hunt    -    ing   with   my      la  -  dy 


i 


-i9- 


F-f^- 


.(2_ 


II 


go,     With     my        sweet      la 


dy       go. 


"And  whither  will  thy  lady  go? 

Sweet  Wilkin,  tell  it  unto  me; 

And  thou  shalt  have  my  hawk,  my  hound,  and  eke 

my  bow, 
To  wait  on  thy  lady." 

"  My  lady  will  to  Uppingham, 

To  Uppingham  forsooth  will  she ; 

And  I  myself  appointed  for  to  be  the  man 

To  wait  upon  my  lady." 


136  &obm  Jjtoob 


Robin  "Adieu,  good  Wilkin,  all  beshrewed, 
and  the  Thy  hunting  nothing  pleaseth  me; 
Potter  But  yet  beware  thy  babbling  hounds  stray  not  abroad 
For  ang'ring  of  thy  lady." 

"My  hounds  shall  be  led  in  the  line, 

So  well  I  can  assure  it  thee ; 

Unless  by  strain  of  view  some  pursue  I  may  find, 

To  please  my  sweet  lady." 

With  that  the  lady  she  came  in. 

And  willed  them  all  for  to  agree; 

For  honest  hunting  never  was  accounted  sin, 

Nor  never  shall  for  me. 


ant  jfyit  JWerrp  jWen 


t 


1 

Thb 

i^jVBNTURESOF' 

IutlbJohnc 
^theSherifp, 


Chapter  X 

THE  Sheriff  of  Nottingham  was  deter- 
mined to  wreak  vengeance  upon  Robin 
Hood  and  his  followers.  For  weeks  he  and  his 
men  went  through  Sherwood  Forest,  seeking 
traces  of  the  outlaws.  But  the  sheriff  was 
never  able  to  find  the  path  which  led  to  the 
grassy  clearing.  Often  an  arrow  would  fall 
among  his  soldiers  as  a  warning  that  Robin 
Hood  and  his  bowmen  wished  to  be  let 
alone. 

Finding  that  he  could  not  take  Robin 
Hood,  the  sheriff  did  a  very  unjust  thing. 
He  found  out  the  names  of  some  of  the  poor 
people  whom  Robin  Hood  had  helped  and 
began  to  persecute  them  because  they  were 
friends  of  an  outlaw.  At  this  Robin  Hood  was 
exceedingly  angry.     He  did  his  best  for  the 

137 


138  Robin  fooob 

The  poor  people,  giving  them  venison  and  money. 
tures  of  But  the  sheriff  continued  to  illtreat  them. 

5£      "If   ever   I   take   that   man   again,"    said 
a^fie%  Robin  Hood,  "I  will  not  let  him  off  so  easily." 

At  this  Little  John  begged  to  go  forth  on 
an  adventure. 

"Give  me  leave,  good  master,"  he  said. 
' '  I  think  I  can  find  a  way  to  make  the  sheriff 
prisoner.  I  cannot  forgive  him  for  the  wound 
in  my  leg,  to  say  nothing  of  the  way  he  treats 
these  poor  people." 

"Go  your  way,  John,"  said  Robin  Hood, 
"only  be  careful  that  no  harm  comes  to 
you." 

Little  John  went  to  Marian  and  asked  her 
to  look  in  her  chests  and  find  him  a  common 
suit  of  homespun  cloth.  Then  she  gave 
him  a  dye  made  of  walnut  with  which  he 
dyed  his  light  hair  and  stained  his  skin. 
Even  his  friends  hardly  recognized  Little 
John  in  the  dark  gypsy  who  stood  ready  to 
set  forth  on  an  adventure.  He  cut  a  staff 
and  walked  quickly  to  the  town  of  Notting- 
ham. When  he  reached  the  sheriff's  house 
he  knocked  and  demanded  to  see  the  lord. 

The  servant  who  answered  the  door  looked 
at  him  scornfully. 


anb  %ig  ffltvvy  Jflen  139 

"What  has  a  poor  fellow  like  you  to  do  The 
with  my  master? "  he  asked.  tures  of 

' '  Tell  your  master  that  I  am  looking  for  a  /0f* 
place  as  a  servant.     Say  that  I  am  not  only  atjd  t.h'' 
a  strong  man,  but  that  I  can  shoot  with  a 
bow  and  arrow  as  well  as  Robin  Hood." 

At  that  the  servant  let  him  in,  for  the  sheriff 
was  always  eager  to  talk  with  a  man  who 
could  shoot. 

The  sheriff  looked  up  when  Little  John 
entered  the  doorway  of  the  countingroom. 

"So  you  wish  to  be  my  servant?"  he  said. 
11  If  you  can  really  shoot  well,  I  will  take  you." 

Little  John  soon  showed  him  in  the  public 
square  how  well  he  could  speed  an  arrow. 
The  sheriff  was  pleased. 

"I  will  take  you  as  my  own  bodyguard," 
he  said. 

Upon  this  Little  John  looked  pleased,  too. 
He  knew  that  if  once  he  could  get  the  sheriff 
off  alone,  he  could  easily  take  him  to  Robin 
Hood. 

"But  not  for  a  week,"  the  sheriff  added. 
"I  will  see  if  you  have  the  faithfulness  a 
good  servant  should  have,  by  putting  you 
in  the  scullery.  The  steward  will  give  you 
your  orders.     You  may  go," 


i4o  &oinn  j|oob 

The      Little  John  was  anything  but  pleased  to 

tmes  of  hear   these   words.     After   living   a   healthy 

John  life  in  the  open  air  he  hardly  knew  how  he 

"sheriff  cou^  endure  staying  in  a  little  dark  scullery, 

cleaning  knives  and  plates.     However,  since 

it  was  only  for  a  week,  he  determined  to  try. 

For  three  days  he  did  his  best,  though  it  was 

very   wearisome.     The   steward   was   severe 

with  him,  and  made  him  do  all  the  hardest 

work.     Whenever    he    thought    Little    John 

was  lazy,  he  struck  him  with  his  thick  staff. 

Little  John  bore  it  all  in  silence,  though  his 

head  ached  as  well  as  his  back. 

On  the  fourth  morning  he  was  awakened 
early  by  the  sound  of  the  sheriff  going  off  on 
a  hunt.  Little  John  was  very  tired.  He 
was  sure  that  he  would  become  ill  if  he 
stayed  in  the  scullery  another  day.  So  he 
determined  to  leave  the  sheriff's  service  and 
try  to  take  him  prisoner  in  some  other  way. 
About  sunrise  the  steward  knocked  at  his 
door  and  ordered  him  to  get  up. 

"Not  I,"  said  Little  John;  "I  'm  going  to 
sleep  till  noon." 

The  steward  beat  on  the  door  again  and 
again. 

"Beat  it  in,  if  you  like,"  said  Little  John, 


anb  %ig  Jflerrp  Mm  hi 

"but  if  you  do,  the  sheriff  will  call  you  to  The 

fJ  Adven- 

aCCOUllt.  tures  of 

At  noon,  Little  John  got  up  and  went  to  foh* 
the   kitchen.     The   steward   sprang   at   him,  ^jf  JJf 
and   struck  him  with   a   club.     John   easily 
knocked  him  down. 

"I  'm  a  strong  man,"  said  Little  John; 
"you  had  better  not  attack  me  again, 
for  another  time  I  will  really  do  you  some 
harm." 

He  went  into  the  pantry,  where  venison 
and  pastry  were  on  the  shelves,  as  well  as 
fruits  and  cheeses.  But  John  was  honest. 
He  took  only  the  black  bread  and  curds 
which  were  allowed  him  for  breakfast. 

While  he  was  eating,  the  steward  shut  and 
locked  the  pantry  door.  Little  John  only 
laughed,  and  when  his  breakfast  was  over 
he  broke  the  door  down  and  went  into  the 
kitchen. 

"Farewell  to  you,"  said  he. 

But  a  man  almost  as  huge  as  Little  John 
himself  barred  the  door.  This  was  the  new 
cook,  whom  the  steward  had  ordered  to  fight 
with  John.  Both  of  them  were  willing,  for 
neither  had  ever  been  beaten.  They  got 
long   staves   and   went   into   the   courtyard. 


142  £ot)tii  goob 

r/te  For  two  hours  they  struck  at  each  other,  and 
tuns  of  neither  had  the  best  of  it.     At  last  the  big 

jlhn  cook  threw  down  his  staff. 
and  the      '>  ]\t0  m0re  for  me!"  he  roared.     "You  are 

Sheriff 

the  best  man  I  have  ever  met.  I  would 
call  you  friend." 

Little  John  threw  away  his  staff. 

"Gladly,"  said  he;  "and  now,  let  us  leave 
this  house.  If  you  are  a  friend  of  mine, 
you  will  stay  no  longer  with  this  steward  and 
his  lord,  the  sheriff." 

Off  they  went  through  the  town,  and  then 
into  the  woods  about  Nottingham.  Little 
John  told  the  cook  who  he  was,  and  asked 
him  if  he  would  take  service  with  Robin  Hood. 

"Nothing  would  please  me  better,"  replied 
the  cook,  "for  I  have  heard  many  a  tale  of 
his  courage  and  kindness.  Take  me  to  your 
lord." 

After  they  had  walked  two  or  three  miles 
they  heard  the  sound  of  a  hunting  horn. 

"Stop!"  said  Little  John.  "Is  not  that 
the  sheriff's  horn?" 

"Truly,"  replied  the  cook,  "I  think  it  is." 

"A  plan  has  occurred  to  me,"  said  Little 
John.  "Do  you  take  my  bugle  and  follow 
this  winding  path  by  the  hawthorn.     When 


attb  %tg  Jflerrp  jfflen  143 

you    have    gone    two    miles,    blow.     Robin  The 
Hood  and  his  men  will  come.     Tell  them  who  tures  of 
you  are,  and  ask  Robin  Hood  to  wait  in  the  fJl* 
clearing  by  the  yew  trees  till  I  come."  a*d  th< 

"I  will  do  as  you  say,"  replied  the  cook. 

Then  Little  John  ran  off,  following  the 
sound  of  the  sheriff's  horn.  After  a  short 
time  he  came  upon  the  sheriff  and  two  or 
three  of  his  men.  Little  John  hurried  to  the 
sheriff,  and  said,  breathlessly: 

"Oh,  master,  come  with  me!  I  will  lead 
you  to  the  finest  buck  that  ever  was  seen. 
It  has  a  green  skin." 

"Come,  come,  my  good  servant,"  said  the 
sheriff.  "Who  ever  heard  of  a  buck  with  a 
green  skin?" 

"But  I  have  seen  it,  my  lord,"  persisted 
Little  John;  "it  is  here  in  the  forest,  not 
three  miles  away." 

"It  must  be  some  magic,   if  the  skin  is 
green,"  said  the  sheriff. 

"No,  it  is  not  magic,"  said  Little  John. 
"And  that  is  not  all,  master.  He  has  sharp 
antlers — sixty  of  them." 

"Sixty  antlers!"  cried  the  sheriff. 

"And  five  score  deer  follow  him,  also  in 
green." 


i44  lAolnn  l)oob 

The      "Nay,  my  good  servant  John,  your  eyes 
turesof  have  deceived  you,"  said  the  sheriff, 
j*"*      "Only  come  with  me,   master,   and  see," 

"sheriff  urSed  John. 

"There  can  be  no  harm  in  that,"  said  the 
sheriff. 

So  he  and  his  men  followed  Little  John 
along  the  path  by  the  hawthorns.  When- 
ever Little  John  thought  the  sheriff  or  his 
men  were  impatient  because  they  did  not 
come  up  with  the  deer,  he  began  to  tell  what 
a  wonderful  creature  it  was.  At  last  he 
brought  them  to  the  clearing  by  the  yew 
trees. 

"Here  we  are,  master,"  said  Little  John, 
catching  sight  of  green  coats  among  the 
yew  trees.     "The  buck  you  seek  is  at  hand." 

At  that  moment  out  stepped  Robin  Hood 
and  a  hundred  archers.  They  surrounded 
the  sheriff  and  his  men,  and  took  them  pris- 
oners. 

"Fellow,"  said  the  sheriff  to  Little  John, 
"you  have  deceived  me." 

"Nay,"  said  Little  John,  "I  but  spoke  in 
parable.  The  green  skin  of  the  buck  is  the 
green  raiment  of  Robin  Hood,  and  the  sixty 
antlers  are  his  arrows.    And  I  owed  you  this 


anb  j|tg  ffltvvy  Mm  H5 

for  that  arrow  you  once  had  shot  into  my  The 

,  Adven- 

leg.  '        hires  of 

"Step    back,  .Little    John,"    commanded  j£ 
Robin.     "Now,  my  Lord  Sheriff,"  he  said,  **£*? 
"I  could  easily  take  your  life,  but  I  will  not. 
I  will  keep  you  here,  and  make  you  live  and 
work  as  we  do." 

"For  how  long?"  asked  the  sheriff. 

"That  I  dot  not  know,"  replied  Robin 
Hood. 

The  sheriff  reflected  that  at  least  his  life 
was  safe,  and  he  hoped  that  he  and  his  men 
would  somehow  escape.  Besides,  life  and 
work  in  the  greenwood  could  not  be  very 
hard. 

But  in  all  this  the  sheriff  was  mistaken. 
He  could  not  escape,  for  there  were  always 
three  or  four  of  Robin's  bowmen  with  him. 
Every  morning  he  helped  dress  venison  and 
prepare  vegetables  for  dinner.  Every  after- 
noon he  practiced  shooting  till  his  arms 
ached.  After  supper  he  helped  cleanse  the 
dishes.  Little  John  enjoyed  seeing  him  scrape 
trenchers,  though  he  always  did  half  the 
work  himself. 

It  amused  Much,  the  miller's  son,  to  hurry 
through  whatever  evening  task  was  assigned 


146 


£obm  i)ooti 


Every 

morning 

he  helped 

prepare 

vegetables 

for  dinner 


anb  ?|te  fflttvp  ffltn 


147 


to  him,  and  then  to  stand  close  to  the  sheriff,  The 
who  was  still  at  work,  and  sing  some  care-free  tures  of 
song.     The  following  was  one  of  his  favorites:  fohn 

1             __         1  and  the 

V     !  I-^S     !  L ^    !  Sheriff 


fair  -  y  elves    that  be,  .  .  .  Which  cir  -  cle  on 


be; 


— f© a 

S*— # — ?d — 2 


■» 


"ST 


i 


at^: 


-^-*  -^-  ^-^- 


green,  Come  fol-low  Mab,  your  queen.       Hand  in  hand  let's 


0 


75*- 


3^: 


3g" 
-(221 


(51 


f; 


*-»—* 


=t 


5 


^    fi»         *  +&—.j..g 


,     .  !lf 

dance    a  -  round,     For  this  place     is   fair  -   y  ground. 

When  mortals  are  at  rest, 
And  snoring  in  their  nest; 
Unheard  and  unespied, 
Through  keyholes  we  do  glide; 
Over  tables,  stools,  and  shelves, 
We  trip  it  with  our  fairy  elves. 


10 


148 


&obm  Jjtoob 


The 
Adven- 
tures of 
Little 
John 
and  the 
Sheriff 


And  if  the  house  be  foul 

With  platter,  dish,  or  bowl 

Upstairs  we  nimbly  creep, 

And  find  the  sluts  asleep; 

Then  we  pinch  their  arms  and  thighs; 

None  us  hears,  and  none  us  spies. 

But  if  the  house  be  swept, 
And  from  un cleanness  kept, 
We  praise  the  household  maid, 
And  duly  she  is  paid ; 
Every  night  before  we  go, 
We  drop  a  tester  in  her  shoe. 

Then  o'er  a  mushroom's  head 

Our  tablecloth  we  spread; 

A  grain  of  rye  or  wheat, 

The  diet  that  we  eat; 

Pearly  drops  of  dew  we  drink, 

In  acorn  cups  filled  to  the  brink. 

The  brains  of  nightingales, 

With  unctuous  fat  of  snails, 

Between  two  cockles  stewed, 

Is  meat  that's  eas'ly  chew'd; 

Tails  of  worms  and  marrow  of  mice, 

Do  make  a  dish  that's  wond'rous  nice. 

The  grasshopper,  gnat,  and  fly, 

Serve  for  our  minstrelsy; 

Grace  said,  we  dance  a  while, 

And  so  the  time  beguile : 

And  if  the  moon  do  hide  her  head 

The  glow-worm  lights  us  home  to  bed. 


anb  %Ma  fflttvy  Jflen  149 

O'er  tops  of  dewy  grass  The 

So  nimbly  do  we  pass,  UlTof 

The  young  and  tender  stalk,  Little 
Ne'er  bends  where  we  do  walk;  dth 

Yet  in  the  morning  may  be  seen  Sheriff 
Where  we  the  night  before  have  been. 

What  distressed  the  sheriff  most  was  sleep- 
ing on  the  ground.  Much  helped  him  make 
a  bed  of  green  boughs,  but  they  cut  into  his 
flesh.  Then  Much  got  grass  and  moss  for 
him,  but  still  he  could  not  sleep  comfortably. 
Besides,  he  was  afraid  of  wild  beasts,  and  he 
did  not  like  to  wake  in  the  dawn  when  the 
birds  began  to  chirp. 

At  the  end  of  three  days  he  came  to  Robin 
Hood  in  tears. 

"There  is  not  a  more  miserable  man  in  the 
whole  of  Nottinghamshire  than  I,"  he  said, 
"and  all  because  I  have  tried  to  punish  you 
for  breaking  the  law." 

"There  you  are  mistaken,"  said  Robin. 
"An  outlaw  is  subject  to  none.  I  make  my 
own  law  and  my  own  kingdom.  I  have 
never  hurt  you,  and  yet  you  have  tried  to 
kill  me." 

"Let  us  speak  no  more,"  said  the  sheriff. 
"I  wish  you  would  kill  me  now,  Robin  Hood, 


150  Eobtn  feoob 

r/?e  for  I  assure  you  I  would  far  rather  die  than 
tures  of  live  and  work  longer  in  your  forest." 

jjj£      Marian  felt  sorry  for  the  sheriff. 
5?  'v?      ' '  ^S  Poor  W^e  must  l°ng  f or  him, ' '  she  said. 
"Let  him  go,  Robin;  I  am  sure  he  will  not 
make  trouble  for  you  again." 

"If  I  let  you  free,"  said  Robin  Hood, 
"what  will  you  do?" 

"I  will  go  back  to  Nottingham  town," 
said  the  sheriff,  "and  neither  I  nor  my  men 
will  ever  seek  to  kill  you  or  yours." 

"That  is  not  enough,"  said  Robin;  "for 
you  are  not  able  to  kill  us." 

"Then  I  will  no  longer  persecute  Sir 
Richard  of  the  Lea,  who  lately  helped  you," 
said  the  sheriff. 

"Good,  but  can  you  promise  nothing 
more  ? ' ' 

"I  can  help  your  men  if  ever  they  come 
into  my  power,"  said  the  sheriff  after  a 
pause,  "and  I  will  do  that.  Also,  I  will  nc 
longer  trouble  the  poor  whom  you  have 
helped." 

"You  have  learned  your  lesson,  my  Lord 
Sheriff,"  said  Robin,  "and  you  have  learned 
it  cheaply  at  the  cost  of  an  aching  back  and 
tired  arms." 


anb  j|tg  ffltvvy  Mm  151 

• 

Robin  Hood  called  his  bowmen  and  ordered  The 
them   to    free    the    sheriff    and    his    follow-  turlToj 
ers,  mount  them   on  their  horses,   blindfold  jjjj 
them,  and  lead  them  to  the  Roman  road.     He  «"*  (Jf 
himself  led  the  horse  of  the  sheriff. 

"And  now,  good-by,"  he  said.  "Go  you 
back  to  your  good  wife  and  give  her  gentle 
greetings  from  me." 

"Farewell,  Robin  Hood,"  said  the  sheriff. 
"  I  do  not  wish  to  call  you  friend,  but  I  respect 
you  as  a  courteous  enemy." 

They  bowed  to  each  other,  and  parted. 
Presently  the  clatter  of  the  horses'  hoofs  died 
away  on  the  Roman  road,  and  Robin  and 
his  men  were  left  once  more  sole  occupants 
of  Sherwood  Forest. 


Motrin  ?^oob 


Chapter  XI 

THE  end  of  April  had  come  in  Robin 
Hood's  forest.  The  crocuses  were  gone, 
and  the  cowslips  and  primroses  were  show- 
ing their  yellow  heads  in  the  grass.  The 
leaves  on  the  trees  were  long;  even  the  oaks 
were  thickly  enough  clad  to  cast  a  shade. 
The  young  birds  were  almost  large  enough 
to  fly,  and  every  morning  they  woke  Marian 
with  their  chirping. 

"In  my  father's  castle,"  said  Marian, 
"they  are  beginning  to  think  of  May  Day." 

"Do  you  miss  May  Day?"  asked  Robin 
Hood.  "Shall  we  go  to  Nottingham  town 
and  see  the  celebrations  there?" 

"Nay,  then,"  said  Marian,  "let  us  have 
our  own  May-day  games,  Robin.  Much 
shall  sing  for  us ;  George-a-Green  shall  whistle ; 

152 


anb  His  Mtvvy  fflm  153 

Little  John  shall  dance;  some  of  the  young  a- 
men  must  wrestle;  and  you  and  I  shall  be 
crowned  King  and  Queen  of  the  May." 

"That  is  a  good  plan,"  Robin  said. 

They  were  sitting  under  Robin's  favorite 
oak.  Marian  was  embroidering  a  green 
jacket  for  him,  and  he  had  been  reading  to  her 
from  a  beautifully  illuminated  manuscript. 
Just  as  he  was  about  to  continue,  Friar 
Tuck  came  hurrying  across  the  clearing,  his 
rosy  face  beaming  with  excitement,  his  plump 
cheeks  shaking  at  each  step. 

"Hark  you,  Robin!"  he  said:  "I  have 
heard  that  the  queen  and  her  ladies,  her 
pages,  her  guards,  and  some  of  the  courtiers 
are  to  reach  Nottingham  to-morrow." 

"Say  you  so,  indeed?"  cried  Robin. 

"I  suppose  they  will  lodge  with  the  sher- 
iff," said  Marian,  "for  none  other  has  so  large 
a  house.  I  warrant  his  lady  will  be  vastly 
excited." 

"But  this  is  not  all,"  went  on  Friar  Tuck. 
"The  sheriff  is  anxious  that  there  shall  be  a 
splendid  May-day  celebration  for  Her  Maj- 
esty. The  great  square  of  Nottingham  is 
not  sylvan  enough,  it  seems.  Despite  the 
possible  danger  from  us,  he  says,  he  intends 


i54  foobm  j|oob 

/■to  hold  the  games  and  dancing  in  the  clearing 
by  the  yew  trees." 

"The  sheriff  knows  that  there  is  no  danger 
from  us,"  Robin  said.  "  I  am  a  loyal  subject 
who  will  always  protect  my  queen,  though 
I  am  an  outlaw." 

"He  probably  supposes  that  you  are  as 
base  as  himself,"  remarked  Friar  Tuck;  "but 
he  thinks  that  with  his  soldiers  and  because 
of  the  queen,  the  royal  party  will  be  safe." 

"Oh!"  cried  Marian,  clapping  her  hands. 
"Robin,  let  us  hide  in  the  thick  woods  about 
the  clearing  and  watch  their  games!" 

"And  give  up  our  own?"  he  asked. 

"No,  no;  have  both!"  she  said.  "Let  us 
see  theirs  first,  and  then  have  our  own. 
As  ours  will  be  much  better,  they  should 
be  last." 

"You  are  very  loyal  to  our  own,  Marian," 
Robin  Hood  said,  smiling.  "It  shall  be  as 
you  wish." 

When  Robin  Hood's  bowmen  heard  that 
the  queen  with  part  of  her  court  was  coming 
to  Nottingham,  they  were  much  interested. 
At  various  times  during  the  next  day  or  two, 
some  of  them  went  in  disguise  to  Nottingham 
to  see  what  they  might  of  the  royal  party. 


anb  j|tg  Mttvy  jfflett  155 

They  could  scarcely  recognize  the  place,  a- 
A  great  triumphal  arch  had  been  built  at 
the  entrance  of  the  town  over  the  road  along 
which  the  queen  was  to  pass.  It  was 
entirely  covered  with  green  boughs,  and 
across  the  top  was  the  word,  "Welcome," 
made  of  white  roses.  There  was  another 
arch,  in  front  of  the  sheriff's  house,  painted 
blue  and  gold.  From  the  windows  of  the 
other  houses  hung  flags  and  banners — scarlet 
and  purple  and  crimson.  Even  the  very 
poor  people  had  managed  to  decorate  in  some 
way.  Those  who  could  not  afford  a  banner 
of  cloth  had  woven  mats  of  rushes  to  hang 
from  their  windows,  and  had  placed  green 
boughs  over  the  doorways. 

The  clearing  by  the  yew  trees  was  full  of 
busy  workmen  engaged  in  making  a  pavilion 
of  green  wood  and  boughs.  In  the  center 
was  placed  the  sheriff's  own  carved  chair, 
over  which  was  draped  a  robe  of  ermine. 
Robin  and  Marian  peeped  at  it  from  behind 
the  trees. 

"Would  you  rather  be  a  real  queen  than 
Queen  of  the  May?"   Robin  asked  Marian. 

"I  prefer  to  be  Queen  of  the  Greenwood, 
as  I  am,"  she  replied. 


156  Kolmt  goob 

„.    ^"      Early  on  the  first  of  May  the  queen  was 

Maying  J  . 

awakened  by  the  sound  of  singing  outside 
the  sheriff's  house.  The  people  of  Notting- 
ham were  giving  her  a  May-day  greeting. 
After  she  had  dressed  and  breakfasted,  her 
white  palfrey  was  brought  to  the  door.  It 
had  scarlet  trappings,  and  a  bridle  decorated 
with  emeralds  and  jingling  with  golden  bells. 
The  queen  wore  a  pale  green  robe  in  honor 
of  the  day.  After  her  favorite  page,  Richard 
Partington,  had  helped  her  to  mount,  he 
walked  at  her  horse's  head.  Then  two  score 
horsemen  in  coats  of  mail  galloped  to  the 
front,  while  just  behind  the  queen  rode  half 
a  dozen  ladies  in  waiting  on  brown  and  black 
palfreys  led  by  handsome  pages.  Next  came  a 
score  of  knights  beautifully  dressed  in  green; 
then  twenty  more  horsemen,  and,  after  them, 
the  Lord  Sheriff. 

All  these  set  off  down  the  road,  followed 
by  the  bowmen,  dancers,  and  wrestlers  who 
were  to  provide  the  entertainment  for  the 
queen,  and  two  stout  boys  carrying  the 
Maypole. 

This  Maypole  was  a  tall,  slim,  tapering 
tree  trunk,  all  trimmed  about  with  green 
leaves  and  spring  flowers,  and  with  a  dozen 


anb  gig  Jlterrp  Jtlen  151 

long  green  ribbons  hanging  from  the  top  of  j^a  . 
it  almost  to  the  ground. 

The  people  of  the  town  followed  the 
procession  as  far  as  they  dared,  but  as  they 
were  not  invited  to  see  the  entertainment 
they  did  not  enter  the  greenwood.  When 
the  party  had  reached  the  clearing  by  the 
yew  trees  the  sheriff  assisted  the  queen  to 
dismount  and  led  her  to  the  chair  of  state. 

Meantime,  Robin  Hood,  Marian,  and  the 
bowmen  had  gathered  a  few  paces  distant 
in  the  woods.  They  watched  the  ladies  and 
courtiers  group  themselves  about  the  queen, 
while  the  guards  stood  a  little  farther  back. 

"Do  you  see  the  bowmen,  master?"  asked 
Little  John.  "They  are  clad  just  like  our- 
selves, in  Lincoln  green." 

"The  sheriff  has  a  good  memory,"  said 
Robin  Hood. 

"I  fear  that  being  clad  like  us  will  not 
give  them  our  skill,"  remarked  Little  John. 

"Hush,"  said  Robin;  "the  sports  are  about 
to  begin." 

The  Maypole  was  set  up  several  yards  dis- 
tant from  the  pavilion.  Then  half  a  dozen 
men  and  maidens  came  forward,  and  courte- 
sied  to  the  queen;  and,  each  taking  one  of  the 


158  JAobin  I)ooti 

^-  long  green  ribbons,  they  began  to  dance. 
Backward  and  forward  they  stepped,  the 
ribbons  always  in  their  hands,  a  fiddler  making 
a  rude  kind  of  music  to  which  they  all  kept 
time. 

When  the  dance  was  over,  the  queen 
applauded,  but  Marian  smiled.  She  knew 
that  her  bowmen  could  dance  more  grace- 
fully than  that.  Then  stakes  were  set  up 
at  one  end  of  the  clearing,  and  some  young 
men  threw  quoits.  This  game  did  not  inter- 
est the  queen  particularly,  because  she  was 
too  far  away  to  see  when  the  quoits  encircled 
the  stakes.  After  that,  other  young  men 
wrestled,  and  again  Marian  smiled  as  she 
thought  how  much  more  skillful  the  men  of 
the  greenwood  were.  Last  of  all,  the  twenty 
men  in  green  stepped  forward. 

"These,  your  majesty,"  said  the  sheriff, 
"are  the  best  bowmen  in  the  country,  bar 
none." 

At  that,  Robin  Hood  shrugged  his  shoul- 
ders. "In  faith,  that  is  hard  to  bear!"  he 
said. 

"Nay,  then,  Lord  Sheriff,"  said  the  queen. 
' '  I  did  not  know  you  had  the  best  archers  in 
England." 


anb  %tg  ffltttp  Mm  159 

"Your  Majesty  shall  judge,"  replied  the  j:    . 
sheriff. 

A  row  of  targets  was  set  up  at  one  end  of  the 
clearing,  and  the  twenty  archers  stepped 
forward  and  raised  their  bows.  They  had 
been  practicing  diligently  and  they  shot  well, 
most  of  them  coming  within  the  bull's-eye. 

"Well  done!"  cried  the  queen.  "But  the 
sport  has  been  very  short.  Have  you  any- 
thing more  to  show  me,  my  Lord  Sheriff?" 

' '  I  had  thought  that  more  would  tire  Your 
Majesty, "  replied  the  sheriff. 

"Nay,  then,  I  would  gladly  see  more," 
said  the  queen;  "but  since  there  is  no  more, 
I  thank  you  heartily  for  the  pleasure  you  have 
given  me  and  my  court." 

At  this  moment  Robin  Hood  stepped  for- 
ward. He  was  clad  in  his  usual  Lincoln 
green,  and  he  wore,  in  honor  of  the  day,  a 
long  mantle  embroidered  in  gold.  He  fell  on 
one  knee  before  the  queen. 

"Whom  have  we  here?"  said  she. 

"Your  Majesty,  a  most  loyal  subject,"  he 
replied,  "who  craves  leave  to  show  you  some 
May-day  sport." 

"Gladly,"  said  the  queen. 

Robin    Hood    waved    his    hand,    and    his 


160  Kotmt  l)oob 

__    4"  hundred    bowmen    marched    two    and    two 

Maying 

out  of  the  woods  and  took  their  places,  bows 
raised,  before  the  targets  at  the  end  of  the 
clearing. 

The  queen's  men  looked  at  one  another 
uneasily,  and  felt  for  their  weapons. 

"Fear  nothing!"  cried  Robin  Hood  loudly. 
"We  are  loyal  men."  . 

Then  Marian,  all  in  white,  rode  forward  on 
her  white  palfrey.  She  dismounted  at  the 
pavilion  and  bowed  low  to  the  queen. 

"Come  you  here,  my  pretty  child,"  said 
the  queen,  "and  sit  on  the  footstool  at  my 
feet." 

While  Marian  obeyed,  a  band  of  dancers 
came  from  the  woods,  Little  John  at  their 
head,  carrying  a  Maypole.  It  was  far  more 
beautiful  than  the  sheriff's  pole,  for  it  was 
covered  with  the  rarest  of  wild  flowers  and 
little  delicate  ferns.  The  long  ribbons  which 
hung  from  it  were  decorated  with  shining 
gold  coins. 

The  dancers  stepped  before  the  queen  and 
did  a  morris  dance,  weaving  backward  and 
forward,  leaning  and  turning  as  lightly  as 
if  the  green  grass  had  been  a  waxed  floor. 

As  they  danced,  they  sang  this  song: 


anb  %fc  Jflerrp  Jtlen 


161 


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trip  and    go,         Mer  -  ri  -  ly    trip        and  go. 


!62  &oftm  %oob 

Main'  "Wonderful  dancing!"  cried  the  queen. 
aymg  "Again!" 

After  the  dance  had  been  repeated,  six 
wrestlers  took  their  places  and  showed  their 
skill.  Next  six  tumblers  performed  most 
difficult  feats  of  tumbling  and  leaping  over 
high  bars.  Lastly,  after  the  queen  had 
applauded,  Robin  Hood  called  his  archers. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  bowing  low  to  the 
queen,  "my  Lord  Sheriff  has  shown  you  what 
his  archers  can  do.  Give  me  leave  to  present 
mine." 

"Let  the  men  shoot,"  said  the  queen. 
"Archery  has  ever  been  my  favorite  sport, 
as  it  is  the  king's." 

Robin  Hood  whistled.  At  the  signal,  the 
archers  came  forward,  and  ranged  themselves 
in  front  of  the  pavilion.  He  whistled  again, 
and  they  got  into  position  and  lifted  their 
bows.  At  the  third  whistle,  they  sped  their 
gray-goose  shafts,  and  immediately  the  bull's- 
eye  was  full.  Again  Robin  whistled,  and  this 
time  each  archer  split  an  arrow. 

Then  Robin  took  his  own  bow,  and  stepping 
a  little  to  one  side,  shot  diagonally,  so  that 
he  sent  an  arrow  through  three  of  those 
quivering  in  the  bull's-eye. 


attb  %tg  ffltvvy  Jtten  163 

The  queen  rose,  and  extended  her  hand.  <f;    . 

^  '  Maying 

"My  good  subject,  this  is  an  unbelievable 
sight,"  she  said.  "Accept  this  gold  ring  as 
a  token  of  my  favor." 

Robin  took  off  his  embroidered  mantle. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "if  you  will 
accept  this  mantle  in  return." 

The  queen  took  it,  and  then  handed  him 
the  ring.  Meantime,  the  sheriff  was  looking 
uneasily  at  Robin.  He  did  not  know  whether 
or  not  he  dared  tell  the  queen  who  Robin  was. 

"And  now,  my  good  subject,"  said  the 
queen,  "tell  me  your  name,  that  I  may  speak 
of  you  and  your  wonderful  shooting  to  my 
lord,  the  king." 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "have  I  your 
good  leave  to  depart  unscathed,  I  and  all  my 
men,  and  with  your  good  favor,  whoever  I 
am?" 

"Assuredly,  since  you  are  my  true  subject," 
she  replied. 

"Then,  Your  Majesty,  I  stand  here,  Robin 
Hood,  outlaw  of  Sherwood  Forest." 

At  that,  the  courtiers  and  men  at  arms  put 
their  hands  on  their  weapons.  One  or  two 
took  a  step  forward.  The  ladies  clung  to- 
gether in  fear.     The  queen   grew  pale;  then 

11 


164 


3&obm  Jtoob 


"  Your 

Majesty, 

I  stand 

here, 

Robin 

Hood, 

outlaw  of 

Sherwood 

forest." 


anb  Htg  ffltxx?  Jfflen  165 

she  turned  to  her  followers  and  said:     "Si-<J;    . 

Maying 

lence,  all!  Make  no  movement.  Do  not 
harm  this  man." 

' '  Humph ! ' '  whispered  Little  John.  ' "T is 
more  like  that  we  could  harm  them." 

"Your  Majesty,"  said  one  lord,  "do  you 
not  know  that  there  is  a  price  on  this  man's 
head — that  the  king  has  commanded — " 

"Sir,"  cried  the  queen,  "you  forget  your- 
self! While  the  king  is  at  war,  as  he  is  just 
now,  I  am  king.  I  command  that  this  man, 
to  whom  I  have  given  my  word,  shall  go 
free." 

Robin  Hood  took  Marian's  hand,  and  led 
her  to  her  palfrey.  He  beckoned  his  men  to 
withdraw  into  the  wood.  Then  he  turned  to 
the  queen. 

"Your  Majesty,"  he  said,  "do  you  wish 
now  to  take  back  your  ring?" 

"Nay,",  said  the  queen,  "a  gift  is  a  gift, 
and  you  are  a  true  subject.  Yet  come  not 
near  my  court  again,  Robin  Hood.  I  may 
not  always  have  the  power  to  protect  you. 
I  thank  you  for  your  merry  sport,  and  fare- 
well." 

Robin  Hood  bent  and  kissed  her  hand. 
Then  he  turned  his  back  on  all  that  silent 


166 


&obin  Hoob 


.,    .■4"  company  and  took  his  way  toward  his  own 

Maying  r       J  j 

green  kingdom.  He  spoke  not  at  all,  but 
the  others  were  merry,  particularly  George- 
a-Green,  who  whistled  and  danced,  and  Much, 
the  miller's  son,  who  sang  this  song: 


to     the   May  -  pole     a  -  long      let     us 


gone;  There    go   the      lass  -  es,   a  -  way     to   the 


green,  Where   their    beau-ties     may     be 


SraS 


£==£ 


*^v 


Bess, 


~K 


Moll,       Kate,       Doll,         All     the  brave 


S V — k \ — ST- 

^— V  — I w — fc" 


— K- 


— Ps 

— I- 

-0 


— t-^F — 


lass  -  es  have  lads   to    at  -  tend    them;     Hodge, 


attb  %te  ffltvvy  Jfflen 


167 


A- 

Maying 


^MW^ 


:f: 


on,      The    time 


is 


swift  and    must    be 


=t 


fc— 1 


i 


m — # — # — * # — *- 


gone;  There    go  the    lass  -  es      a-  way    to    the 

rV  s  fi     p*»     1**, 


3&ofcm  Jloob 


Chapter  XII 

SOME  time  after  his  adventure  with  the 
queen,  Robin  Hood  took  his  bow  and 
went  alone  for  a  stroll  through  the  forest. 
He  thought  of  the  old  days  when  he  had  been 
an  important  person  in  the  king's  court,  and 
now  he  was  an  outlaw  with  a  price  on  his 
head!  Full  of  such  musing,  he  wandered  far 
from  his  usual  haunts.  As  he  was  walking  down 
a  forest  path  he  looked  up  to  see  a  beautiful 
herd  of  deer  grazing  just  beyond  him. 

1 '  Well  met ! ' '  thought  Robin  Hood.  ' '  Now 
I  can  provide  for  our  dinner." 

Just  as  he  was  about  to  lift  his  bow,  a 
young  man  came  down  the  path  behind 
him.  The  young  man  was  tall  and  slim. 
He  was  dressed  in  a  scarlet  doublet,  long 
white    silk    hose,    and    embroidered    leather 

168 


anb  gig  jfflerrp  jfflen  169 

shoes;  in  his  scarlet  hat  was  a  white  feather.  Robin 
As  he  saw  the  deer,  he  stepped  forward  and  and  the 
shot  an  arrow  at  the  same  moment  that  Robin     range} 
sped  his  shaft.     A  beautiful  fawn-colored  deer 
fell,  pierced  to  the  heart,  and  Robin  Hood 
sprang  forward  to  its  side. 

"That  is  right,  my  good  fellow,"  said  the 
young  man;  "pull  out  my  arrow  and  bring 
me  my  deer." 

Robin  Hood  laughed. 

"Your  pardon,  fair  sir,"  he  said,  "but  that 
was  my  arrow." 

"Nay,  then,"  said  the  young  man;  "there 
is  but  one  arrow,  and  that  must  be  mine.  I 
could  not  have  missed,  for  I  was  taught  to 
shoot  by  my  uncle,  who  was  famous  all  over 
England  for  his  skill.  I  will  pay  you  for 
your  service,  fellow." 

"I  am  willing  to  give  service  to  any  man 
as  a  courtesy,"  said  Robin  Hood,  "but  I  do 
not  take  orders  such  as  you  have  just  spoken, 
young  sir." 

The  stranger  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"You  lose  a  goodly  fee,"  he  said;  "but 
I  am  able  to  shoulder  my  own  deer." 

"Aye,  if  it  were  your  deer,"  replied  Robin, 
"but    this    is    my    deer.     I    know   well    my 


170  Kotjtn  iDoob 

Robin  arrows.     You    will    find    your    arrow    some- 

and  the  where  in  the  greenwood  beyond." 

tranger      They  stood  facing  each  other  for  a  moment. 

Then,    in    a    little    clearing    beyond,    a    doe 

appeared.     The  graceful  creature  lowered  its 

head  to  graze. 

"This  is  a  better  deer  than  the  other," 
remarked  the  young  man.  "I  will  give  you 
the  first,  for  I  see  by  your  plain  clothes  that 
you  are  but  a  poor  forester." 

' '  Marry !  do  not  judge  too  much  by  appear- 
ances," said  Robin  Hood.  "I  will  e'en 
shoot  this  doe  myself." 

"Forester,"  said  the  stranger,  haughtily, 
"I  command  you  not  to  shoot.  I  wish  to 
kill  this  deer  without  hindrance." 

Robin  Hood  smiled. 

"And  who  are  you,  that  you  give  me  such 
commands?"  he  asked. 

"I  am  a  strong  man,"  returned  the  youth, 
"and  a  good  shot  with  the  bow,  as  my  former 
attempt  proved." 

"I  have  some  skill  with  the  bow  myself," 
returned  Robin,    "as  my  arrow,   sticking  in 
that  deer,  proves." 
The  young  man  raised  his  bow,  threateningly. 

"Stop,"  said  Robin;  "you  have  no  arrow 


anb  %ig  fflttvv  jfflen  171 

fitted,  while  I  have.     I  might  have  killed  you  Robin 
at  any  time  during  our  talk,  had  I  wished."      and  the 

"That  is  true— if  you  would  dare  to  kill  Stranger 
a  nobleman,"  said  the  stranger. 

"I  respect  a  nobleman  no  more  than  I 
respect  a  common  man,"  replied  Robin  Hood; 
"but  I  like  your  courage,  and  I  forgive  your 
insolence.  I  will  fight  with  you,  if  you  like, 
but  it  must  be  with  swords." 

"Agreed,"  said  the  young  man,  "but  can 
you  fence  like  a  gentleman?  And  do  you 
pledge  your  word  to  do  me  no  treachery?" 

"In  truth,"  returned  Robin,  "you  try  my 
patience,  my  fair  youth !  Had  I  wished,  I  could 
have  killed  you.  I  have  no  love  for  treachery. 
Do  you  see  this  silver  bugle  of  mine?" 

"A  pretty  toy,"  said  the  stranger. 

"Toy,  forsooth!  With  one  blast  of  this 
horn  I  could  call  a  hundred  men  who  would 
bind  you,  and  put  your  noble  person  to 
doing  some  humble  service  if  I  bade  them. 
So  say  to  me  no  word  about  treachery." 

"All  the  better,  if  you  have  all  these  men 
at  your  command,"  said  the  stranger,  "for 
that  assures  me  that  I  am  fighting  with  no 
common  forester." 

"Young  man,"  said  Robin  gravely,  "give 


172  &oftm  j|oob 

Robin  me  leave  to  say  that  you  think  too  much  of 
and  the  rank.     Have  at  you." 

Stranger  They  struck  out  at  each  other  with  their 
swords,  and  at  the  first  sound  of  steel  clashing 
against  steel,  off  scampered  the  doe  into  the 
forest.  The  sun  was  in  Robin  Hood's  eyes, 
but  he  scorned  to  ask  the  stranger  to  choose 
another  spot  for  the  combat.  For  a  long 
time  they  parried  each  other's  strokes.  The 
young  man  was  very  nimble,  and  it  took  all 
Robin  Hood's  skill  to  avoid  his  thrusts. 

"Aha!"  said  the.  stranger,  as  he  slashed 
the  sleeve  of  Robin's  doublet,  "a  little  closer, 
and  I  had  drawn  the  blood,  forester." 

"The  miss  of  an  inch  is  as  good  as  a  mile," 
returned  Robin,  cheerfully.  "I  pay  you 
back,"  he  added,  as  he  cut  away  half  the 
ruffle  on  the  young  man's  sleeve. 

They  fought  on  for  ten  minutes,  and  then 
the  young  man  said: 

"I  pray  you,  call  a  halt.  It  is  warm  work 
fighting  on  this  fine  May  morning,  and  I 
perceive  that  we  shall  not  soon  be  done." 

"Agreed,"  replied  Robin. 

Each  leaned  against  the  trunk  of  a  tree 
and  rested,  panting  heavily. 

"Marry!"    said   the   stranger,    slowly,    "it 


anb  JMs  Mtttv  Mm 


173 


It  took  all 
Robin 
Hood's 
skill  to 
avoid  his 
thrusts. 


J74  &obtn  jfoob 

Robin  seems  a  pity  to  fight  so  sorely.  Forester, 
and  the  will  you  not  put  down  your  sword,  and  be 
5toFmyman?" 

Robin  smiled. 

"Have  you  forgotten,"  he  said,  "that  I 
told  you  I  have  a  hundred  men  of  my  own?" 

"I  will  take  them  too,  and  gladly,"  said 
the  young  man. 

"Come,  come,"  said  Robin,  sternly;  "you 
are  a  poor  reader  of  character  if  you  think 
I  am  one  who  follows  any  man's  bidding." 

The  stranger  said  nothing  for  a  few  mo- 
ments.    Then  he  asked: 

"What  good  hiding  places  are  there  in  this 
forest?  And  what  are  the  names  of  those 
I  am  likely  to  see?" 

"  Nay,"  said  Robin  Hood,  shortly,  "  I  am  to 
fight  with  you,  not  to  give  you  information." 

"Now,  that  was  not  spoken  like  a  knight," 
said  the  young  man,  reproachfully. 

"True,"  said  Robin,  "and  I  crave  your 
pardon.  I  should  have  told  you  that  there 
are  good  reasons  why  I  can  give  no  man 
news  of  this  forest.  You  will  remember, 
too,  that  this  is  the  first  time  you  have 
addressed  me  as  knight." 

The  young  man  took  up  his  sword  again. 


anb  ftig  fflttty  ffltn  175 

"You  fight  like  a  knight,"  he  said,   "and  j^j»  . 
you  deserve  the  name.     Have  at  you."  and  the 

Again  they  fought,  and  sharp  steel  smiting 
against  sharp  steel  made  a  sound  much 
louder  than  the  singing  of  the  birds  on  the 
branches  above  them.  Stroke  after  stroke 
they  made,  their  breath  growing  shorter 
and  their  wrists  more  tired.  The  sun,  too, 
was  stronger,  and  so  dazzled  Robin  that 
more  than  once  the  stranger  almost  got 
under  his  guard. 

At  last  the  young  man  made  a  quick 
slashing  stroke  at  Robin's  head.  The  outlaw 
only  partly  avoided  it,  for  a  sudden  sunbeam 
blinded  him.  The  sharp  sword  went  through 
his  green  hat,  and  fair  curls,  and  made  a 
long  cut  on  the  side  of  his  head.  He  gave 
back  a  pace,  while  the  blood  ran  down  his 
face,  and  the  stranger  said: 

"Marry,  halt  we  till  you  have  bound  your 
wound." 

Before  Robin  could  reply,  Little  John  and 
Much,  the  miller's  son,  at  the  head  of  fifty 
bowmen,  dashed  through  the  surrounding 
trees.  They  had  heard  the  sound  of  fighting, 
and  now,  when  they  saw  their  master's  blood, 
their    rage    was    great.     Little    John    seized 


176  &obm  jfoob 

Robin  the  stranger  in  his  great  arms,  and  wresting 
and  the  his  sword  away,  threw  it  to  the  spot  where 

Stranger  ^  dead  deer  lay> 

"Master,  shall  I  bind  him?"  cried  Little 
John. 

"That  you  shall  not,  my  hot-headed  friend," 
replied  Robin.  ' '  He  overcame  me  in  fair  fight. ' ' 

"Nay,"  said  the  stranger  politely,  "the 
fight  was  not  over.  You  would  have  given 
me  just  as  sharp  a  stroke." 

"Nevertheless,  we  will  fight  no  more," 
said  Robin.  "You  have  asked  me  to  take 
service  with  you.     Now,  I  ask  you  to  join  me." 

The  stranger's  respect  for  Robin  Hood  had 
increased  when  he  saw  all  the  bowmen  who 
acknowledged  him  as  master.  Besides,  he 
observed  that  Robin  had  let  him  fight  with 
his  back  to  the  sun. 

"I  cannot  join  you,"  the  stranger  replied, 
"for  I  am  in  great  misfortune.  I  am  seeking 
my  uncle,  in  the  hope  that  he  will  receive 
me  if  my  plight  is  not  too  sad." 

"Will  you  tell  me  your  misfortune?" 
asked  Robin. 

"I  have  had  the  same  mischance  that  once 
befell  the  son  of  Sir  Richard  of  the  Lea," 
replied    the    young   man.     "By    mistake,    I 


anb  j)te  fflttry  Jfflen  177 

slew  a  knight  who  was  a  great  favorite  of  Robin 
the  king,   and   I  have  been  obliged  to  flee  and  the 
until    the   king's   wrath    is   cooled.     I    have    tranger 
no  following,  but  a  little  money,  and,  as  I 
said,  I  seek  my  uncle." 

"Perhaps  we  can  help  you  to  find  him," 
said  Robin.     "What  is  his  name?" 

"Robert,  Earl  of  Huntington,"  replied 
the  young  man,  "but  in  these  parts  he  is 
known  as  Robin  Hood.  I  am  Will  Scarlett, 
son  of  his  eldest  sister  and  the  Earl  of 
Gam  well." 

"Are  you  indeed  he  who  was  the  little  lad, 
Will  Scarlett?"  cried  Robin  Hood.  He  put 
his  arm  around  the  young  man's  shoulder, 
and  looked  searchingly  into  his  face.  "Are 
you  indeed  that  little  lad  whom  I  taught  to 
shoot?" 

The  young  man  seized  Robin's  hand. 

"And  I  did  not  know  you,  my  good 
uncle!  And  I  called  you  a  forester,  and 
asked  you  to  serve  me!  Now  I  beg  you  to 
let  me  serve  you." 

"We  are  all  equal  here,"  said  Robin. 
"You  will  learn  to  be  less  haughty  when  you 
have  helped  dress  and  cook  a  deer." 

The  young  man  smiled. 


i78 


&obm  ^oob 


Robin      "I  shall  begin  by  carrying  home  the  deer 

and  the  you  shot.     Uncle,"  he  said,  "I  yield  to  you." 

stranger      «Nay;>    sa;d    Robin,    "Little    John    shall 

carry  it,  and  you  shall  walk  with  me  and  tell 

me  of  your  mother.     It  has  been  many  a  long 

day  since  I  have  seen  any  of  my  own  kin." 

So  back  they  walked,  two  and  two,  to  Robin 
Hood's  retreat,  all  the  band  rejoicing  in  their 
new  recruit.  Much  expressed  his  pleasure 
in  the  following  little  snatch  of  song: 


t±zM: 


i^tt: 


1 — ' r~l 

i — ! — r 

J  -tt-l 

s?  • 

1 1      L 

grass,     There's   mon-y  ane   sings    o' 

M . i - v  I 


corn, 


— i- 


±=J=z 


i 


--A — f— I — It-=-     +A 


There's  mon  -  y    ane     sings 


o' 


Rob    -     in 


tie     where  he  was    born. 


anb  %jt3  jBerrp  jffilen 


ofRobinHood 

AT  COURT 


Chapter  XIII 

ROBIN  HOOD  had  not  asked  his  nephew 
half  the  questions  he  wished  to  ask 
about  his  sister,  the  Lady  of  Gamwell,  and  all 
those  of  the  castle  of  Gamwell,  when  the  walk 
home  was  interrupted.  They  were  following 
a  path  close  to  the  Roman  road,  when  they 
heard  the  sound  of  a  horse's  hoofs.  Looking 
through  the  trees,  they  saw  a  maiden,  dressed 
all  in  black,  riding  on  a  black  palfrey  hung 
with  sable  trappings.  The  dreary  color  pre- 
pared them  for  her  sorrowful  face. 

Immediately,  Robin  Hood  stepped  forth 
from  the  woods,  followed  by  Will  Scarlett 
and  Little  John. 

"Madam,"  said  Robin  Hood,  gently,  "may 
I  ask  where  you  are  from,  and  why  you  are 
so  sad  in  look  and  in  dress?" 


12 


179 


i8o  fooftm  gogjj 

rAe      "Good  sir,"  replied  the  maiden,  "I  come 

ture  of  from  the  king's  city  of  London,  and  I  am 

ft0oA  sad  because  all  London  is  plunged  in  great 

and  Will  p-j-jgf  " 
Scarlett  ° 

at  Court      "What  is  the  matter?"  he  asked. 

"The  city  is  besieged  by  the  proud  Prince 
of  Aragon,"  she  said.  "He  came  to  woo  the 
princess." 

"Marry,"  said  Robin  Hood,  "it  is  a  strange 
wooing!" 

"The  king  does  not  wish  the  princess  to 
marry  him,"  went  on  the  maiden,  "but 
he  says  he  will  have  her  for  his  wife  within 
ten  days,  or  else  he  will  lay  waste  the  land 
all  about.  London  can  endure  a  siege,  but 
the  poor  country  people  will  suffer." 

"That  is  true,  indeed,"  said  Robin;  "and 
does  the  Prince  of  Aragon  offer  no  alter- 
native?" 

"Yes,"  replied  the  maiden,  "and  that  is 
why  I  am  riding,  and  three  other  maidens, 
also.  We  go  north,  east,  south,  and  west, 
looking  for  help." 

"What  help?"  asked  Robin. 

"The  prince  is  a  huge  man,  and  two  of 
his  bodyguards  are  giants  in  size,"  she  said. 
"They   are   terrible   to   look  on,  with  their 


anb  gig  jHerrp  Jflen  181 

bristling  heads  and  flaming  eyes,  and  they  are  The 
marvelously  strong.     The  prince  says  that  if  ture  of 
three  champions  can  be  found  in  all  England  H°0^ 
to  overcome  him  and  his  two  giants,  he  will  cjfjjf' 
yield  his  suit  for  the  princess.     Our  good  king  at  Court 
says  that  if  any  such  can  be  found,  he  will  give 
the  princess  to  the  greatest  victor  of  the  three." 

"There  must  be  many  in  this  broad  land 
who  will  be  glad  to  fight  for  the  princess," 
said  Robin  Hood. 

The  maiden  shook  her  head. 

"None,  none!"  she  said.  "You  do  not 
know  how  strong  are  the  Prince  of  Aragon 
and  his  giants." 

"On  what  day  is  this  contest  to  be  held?" 
inquired  Robin. 

"On  Midsummer  Day,  June  the  twenty- 
fourth,"  she  replied. 

"Fear  nothing,  maiden,"  said  Robin;  "take 
my  word  for  it  that  on  that  day  the  king  will 
have  all  the  champions  he  needs." 

The  maiden  rode  on  to  the  southward,  and 
Robin  Hood  set  off  to  his  retreat,  absorbed 
in  thought.  After  Marian  had  welcomed 
Will  Scarlett,  and  had  asked  after  the  health 
of  various  old  friends,  Robin  Hood  told  her 
of  his  meeting  with  the  maiden. 


1 82  foobtn  j|oob 

The      "  I  know  of  what  you  are  thinking,  Robin," 
tureZf  said   Marian.     "You  wish  to  send  three  of 
5JJ3  our  men  to  fight." 
and  wui      "Nay,"  said  Robin,   "you  have  not  quite 
at  Court  guessed." 

"Ah,  I  fear  I  know!  You  wish  to  go 
yourself,  with  two  of  the  men.  I  am  afraid 
for  you,  but  I  must  not  hold  you  back," 
said  Marian,  bravely. 

"Let  me  be  one  of  the  men!"  cried  Little 
John. 

"And  me,  uncle!"  cried  Will  Scarlett. 

"  Little  John  could  match  one  of  the  giants, 
surely,"  said  Robin,  looking  with  pride 
on  his  huge  follower.     "Yes,  you  shall  go." 

"And  shall  I  go?"  asked  Will  Scarlett. 

"You,  too,  impatient  one,"  returned  Robin, 
smiling;  "for  if  you  fight  bravely  in  the  con- 
test, perhaps  the  king  will  forgive  you  for 
accidentally  slaying  his  knight." 

Both  the  young  men  were  delighted.  For 
the  next  few  days  they  practiced  tilting  with 
the  lance  on  horseback,  and  various  other 
feats  of  strength.  Meantime,  Marian  pre- 
pared three  pilgrim's  robes  of  motley  gray, 
and  scrips,  and  bottles,  and  long  staves. 

"It   will   be   the   safest   disguise,"    Robin 


attb  %fo  jMerrp  Jtten  183 

explained  to   Little  John  and  Will  Scarlett.  The 
"If  we  are  dressed  as  pilgrims,  people  will  ture  of 
scarcely  look  under  our  hoods  to  see  if  we  are  #00™ 
the  famous  bowmen  of  Sherwood  Forest."      sctrfetf 

They  set  out  for  London  two  or  three  days  at  Court 
before  Midsummer  Day.  They  wished  to 
walk  comfortably,  and  hoped  to  rest  for  a 
day  before  the  contest  began.  Robin  Hood 
carried  a  bag  of  gold  under  his  long  robe, 
while  Little  John  and  Will  Scarlett  carried 
dried  venison  and  cakes. 

It  was  beautiful  weather,  both  cool  and 
sunny.  Many  miles  of  their  way  lay  through 
forest  lands,  but  it  seemed  to  them  that  no 
trees  they  saw  were  so  beautiful  as  those  of 
their  own  Sherwood  Forest.  Sometimes  a 
deer  ran  by  them,  and  then  they  wished  for 
their  bows  and  arrows.  Now  and  then  they 
passed  through  little  hamlets,  and  always 
the  villagers  were  talking  of  the  Prince  of 
Aragon,  and  of  the  contest.  After  a  time, 
the  little  hamlets  became  more  frequent,  a 
sign  that  they  were  coming  closer  to  London. 

Many  and  many  a  time  had  Robert,  Earl 
of  Huntington,  ridden  over  that  road  on  a 
battle  horse,  but  Robin  Hood,  who  walked, 
was  just  as  happy  as  the  earl  had  been.     When 


1 84  £olnn  I)oob 

rAe  they  came  in  sight  of  the  River  Thames  he 

ture  of  pointed  out  interesting  landmarks  to  Little 

Hold  J°hn,  who  had  never  been  to  London.     Pres- 

anscadeu  ently>  they  saw  a  gray  haze,  which  later  turned 

at  Court  into  the  buildings  of    London — castles  and 

huts,  mills  and  smithies,  shops  and  booths, 

all  shining  in  the  bright  sunlight. 

When  they  reached  the  heart  of  the  city 
they  realized  that  they  had  but  little  time 
to  spare,  for  the  contest  was  to  be  held  the 
next  day.  Robin  led  the  way  to  a  shop  not 
far  from  Paul's  Church,  and  showing  his  bag 
of  gold,  demanded  the  best  of  armor.  The 
armorer  had  some  difficulty  in  finding  a  suit 
large  enough  for  Little  John. 

"He  is  as  big  as  one  of  those  giants  who 
are  to  fight  against  us  to-morrow,"  he  said. 

After  the  armor  was  chosen — coats  of  mail, 
helmets,  leg-pieces,  shields,  lances,  and  swords 
— Robin  Hood  went  to  a  man  who  sold  him 
three  good  horses.  By  the  time  they  were 
paid  for,  there  was  but  little  gold  left  for 
lodging.  So  they  stayed  with  the  armorer, 
who  fed  their  horses  next  morning,  and  gave 
them  breakfast. 

It  was  only  a  little  after  dawn  when  they 
set  out  for  the  south  bank  of  the  Thames, 


attb  ^fg  Mtvvy  Mm 


185 


The 

armorer 
had  some 
difficulty 
in  finding 
a  suit 
large 
enough 
for  Little 
John. 


1 86  &ofam  jfoob 

The  near  London  Bridge.     Here,  in  a  great  field, 

ture  of  the  combat  was  to  be  held.    As  they  rode  out 

R£bJd  into  the  field  Little  John  said  to  Robin  Hood: 

and  wui  "  Master,  I  am  not  afraid  to  fight,  but  truly  I 

at  Court  am  almost  afraid  of  so  much  magnificence ! ' ' 

On  each  side  of  the  field  was  a  great  pavil- 
ion. In  one  sat  the  English  king  and  his 
lords  and  ladies ;  in  the  other,  sat  the  followers 
of  the  Prince  of  Aragon.  The  sun  sparkled 
on  their  gold  and  jewels,  and  Little  John's 
eyes  were  dazzled  by  the  scarlet  and  blue 
and  crimson  of  their  robes.  In  front  of  each 
pavilion  was  a  long  row  of  knights  on  horse- 
back. The  English  king  sat  in  the  center  of 
his  pavilion,  stern  and  pale,  and  by  his  side 
sat  his  daughter,  the  princess,  heavily  veiled. 

Just  as  Robin  Hood  and  his  men  entered 
the  field  a  herald  from  the  side  of  the  Prince 
of  Aragon  rode  forward,  holding  on  high 
his  golden  trumpet.  He  was  clothed  all  in 
scarlet  silk  and  velvet. 

"Hear  ye!"  he  cried.  "The  most  noble 
the  Prince  of  Aragon  and  his  two  giants  are 
ready  to  do  combat  with  any  three  cham- 
pions of  the  King  of  England  for  the  hand  of 
the  most  glorious  Princess." 

The  princess  shuddered  a  little,  and  looked 


anb  gig  Jflerrp  Jtlen  187 

at   her   father.     At   the   same   moment   the  The 
Prince  of  Aragon,   dressed  in  black  armor,  ture  of 
rode  out  in  front  of  his  row  of  knights,  fol-  §^f 
lowed  by  his  two  giants.  scirktf1 

Then  an  English  herald  galloped  forward  at  Court 
and  lifted  his  trumpet  of  gold. 

"Hear  ye!"  he  cried.  "What  three  brave 
men  will  fight  as  champions  to  succor  the 
most  noble  the  Princess  of  England?" 

Robin  and  his  men  checked  their  horses. 

"Many  knights  will  come  forward,"  said 
Robin,  "and  we  must  e'en  take  our  turn." 

But  no  one  moved.  Again  the  herald 
blew  his  trumpet,  and  called: 

"What  brave  man  will  save  the  Princess 
of  England?  To  him  who  does,  by  the  king's 
command,  her  hand  will  be  given,  if  so  be  he 
is  of  noble  blood." 

When  they  saw  that  no  one  replied  to  the 
second  appeal,  Robin  Hood  and  his  men 
galloped  forward,  and  drew  up  in  front  of 
the  king's  pavilion.  Robin  leaped  from  his 
horse,  and  bent  on  one  knee. 

"Most  noble  liege,"  he  said,  "here  are 
three  unknown  knights,'  who  crave  leave  to 
give  battle  for  the  honor  of  England  and  to 
save  the  gracious  princess," 


188  ftoftm   iPooti 

The      "Gladly  do  I  give  you  leave,"   said  the 

ture  of  king.     "Mount,  brave  Sir  Unknown  Knight, 

"jjjjj  and  let  the  trumpets  be  sounded." 

a%ariett      R°bin  mounted,  and  he  and  Little  John  and 

at  Court  Will  Scarlett  rode  their  horses  in  front  of  the 

long   row   of   English   knights   to   the   place 

opposite  the  Prince  of  Aragon  and  his  giants. 

Then  the  heralds  sounded  their  trumpets,  and 

all  six  riders   spurred  their  horses  forward, 

riding  with  their  lances  at  rest.     Immediately 

clouds  of  dust  rose  as  high  as  their  helmets, 

and  the  lances  crashed  against  the  shields. 

Little  John's  lance  broke,  but  he  kept  his 

seat.    Not  so  the  giant  whom  he  had  attacked ; 

he  was  unhorsed,  and  lay   stunned  on  the 

ground.     Little  John  picked  him  up,  armor 

and  all,  and  carried  him  to  the  king. 

"My  liege,"  he  said,  panting,  "here  is  one 
of  your  enemies.     What  shall  I  do  with  him? " 

Shouts  of  laughter  greeted  Little  John;  for 
what  he  had  done  was  against  knightly  usage. 

"In  truth,  the  good  fellow  is  a  yeoman,  and 
no  knight!"  said  the  king.  "Leave  him 
here,  my  good  man,  and  my  surgeon  will  care 
for  him.     Go  you  back  to  your  horse." 

So  Little  John  hurried  back  to  the  middle 
of  the  field,  where  Will  Scarlett  and  Robin 


anb  %te  fflttxy  jHen  189 

were  engaged  with  the  Prince  of  Aragon  and  The 
the  other  giant.     All  were  fighting  bravely,  ture  of 
Will   Scarlett  had  wounded   the   giant,   but  Hood 
had  himself  received  two  sword  cuts  on  his  ^  W}}1 

bear  Lett 

leg.     Robin  and  the  Prince  of  Aragon  were  on  at  Court 
foot,  striking  at  each  other  with  their  swords. 

Little  John  circled  about  them,  longing  to 
help,  but  knowing  that  Robin  Hood  would 
not  permit  a  fight  of  three  against  two.  At 
last  Will  Scarlett  unhorsed  his  giant,  who 
begged  for  his  life  and  surrendered.  Him 
also  Little  John  carried  in  his  arms  and  laid 
at  the  king's  feet.  Will  Scarlett  sat  on  his 
horse,  breathless  and  pale,  blood  flowing 
from  his  wounds. 

For  many  minutes  Robin  Hood  and  the 
prince  fought.  Never  had  Robin  met  with 
so  strong  an  adversary.  Each  dealt  the  other 
wounds,  and  yet  they  fought  on  with  almost 
undiminished  vigor.  At  last  the  sword  of  the 
prince  broke.     Robin  Hood  paused. 

"You  are  a  brave  man,"  he  said.  "Take 
my  sword,  and  I  will  use  that  of  Will  Scarlett." 

Again  they  fought,  and  this  time  the  prince 
dealt  Robin  Hood  a  cut  through  the  visor 
of  his  helmet.  Robin  shook  away  the  blood 
from  his  eyes,  and,  made  fierce  by  the  pain, 


i9o  &obm  j^oob 

The  pressed  hard  upon  the  prince.     He  drove  him 

ture  of  closer  and  closer  against  the  ranks  of  his  own 

RH™d  men.     Slowly   borne   backward,    at   last   the 

and  will  prince  stumbled  and  fell.     Robin  stood  over 

at  Court  him,  his  sword  point  pressing  against  the  neck 

of  the  prince. 

"Prince  of  Aragon,"  he  said,  "I  yield  you 
your  life  before  you  ask  it.  Now,  yield  up 
your  suit  for  the  hand  of  the  princess." 

"I  yield,"  said  the  prince,  weakly.  "I 
pray  you,  help  me  to  my  feet,  for  I  am  sore 
wounded." 

Robin  assisted  him  to  rise,  and  some  of 
his  own  knights  came  forward  and  led  him 
to  his  pavilion.  Then  Robin,  followed  by 
Will  Scarlett  and  Little  John,  went  to  the 
King  of  England,  and  knelt  before  him,  while 
the  English  applauded  loudly. 

"Sire,"  said  Robin  Hood,  "the  Prince  of 
Aragon  has  yielded  his  suit." 

"My  brave  Unknown  Knight,"  said  the 
king,  "I  thank  you  for  saving  me  and  mine. 
Nor  have  I  forgotten  that  I  promised  the 
princess  to  the  victor." 

"Faith,"  muttered  Little  John,  "she  can- 
not marry  all  three  of  us ! " 

All  the  courtiers  smiled- at  this  good  simple 


anb  %Mg  Mttry  jfflen  191 

fellow,  who  so  little  knew  how  to  talk  in  the  The 
presence  of  a  king.  turTof 

"Nay,  but  she  shall  choose,"  said  the  king,  f^fj 
"Take  off  your  helmets."  aJld  fiU 

J  .  ,  bear  Lett 

"Small  chance  have  I!"  sighed  Little  John,  at  Court 

They  undid  their  helmets,  and  the  princess 
came  forward,  drawing  aside  her  veil.  First 
she  looked  at  Little  John,  and  as  he  had 
expected,  she  quickly  passed  him  by.  Next 
she  looked  at  Robin  with  admiration,  and 
lastly,  she  looked  at  Will  Scarlett.  Then  she 
grew  pale,  and  drew  a  quick  breath. 

"Sire,"  she  said,  "I  choose  this  young 
man.  Often  I  have  seen  him  at  court,  for 
if  I  mistake  not,  he  is  son  to  the  Earl  of 
Gam  well." 

At  this  the  king  frowned;  then  he  said, 
slowly : 

"You  killed  one  of  my  good  knights;  but 
you  have  helped  to  save  my  daughter  and 
perhaps  my  kingdom,  so  I  must  e'en  forgive 
you.  Yet  I  should  be  glad  of  a  different 
son-in-law." 

Little  cared  Will  Scarlett  for  the  grudging 
remark!  He  kissed  the  hand  of  the  princess, 
and  went  forward  to  meet  his  mother  and 
father,  who  came  down  from  the  pavilion  to 


192  foohin  j|oob 

The  greet  him.     The  lady  of  Gamwell  cried  aloud 

tme  of  at  seeing  Robin,  but  he  held  up  his  hand  to 

HoJd  silence  her. 

anscS      "An(i  now,"  said  the  king,  "I  must  give 

at  Court  what   reward    I    can   to   these   other   brave 

fighters.     I  would,"  he  said  to  Robin,  "that 

the  princess  had  chosen  you." 

"Nay,  sire,  I  should  have  had  to  refuse 
her,"  replied  Robin,  "for  I  have  already  a 
wife  whom  I  love  with  all  my  heart." 

"Then  she  has  made  the  most  suitable 
choice,"  said  the  king.  "Your  face,  though 
clean-shaven  and  scarred,  seems  familiar.  Tell 
me  your  name,  and  ask  what  gift  you  will." 

"My  liege,"  answered  Robin,  "I  ask  as 
reward  that  you  let  me  and  my  man  go  with- 
out further  question  as  to  our  names,  and 
that  you  will  think  of  me  as  your  most  loyal 
subject." 

The  king  looked  at  him  doubtfully. 

"It  must  be  as  you  wish,"  he  said,  "but  I 
would  gladly  entertain  you  at  my  castle. 
Fare  you  well ;  and  when  you  will,  come  again 
to  my  court." 

"I  thank  you,  sire,"  said  Robin,  bowing  low. 

Then  he  and  Little  John  rode  from  the  field, 
all  the  people  looking  wonderingly  after  them. 


attb  His;  Mtxxv  Jfflen 


193 


Robin   rode   cheerfully,    glancing   back   now  The 
and  then  at  London,  turning  into  a  gray  haze  twe  of 
behind  them.     To  him  the  simple  life  in  the  jjjjjj1 
greenwood  was  nobler  than  life  in  the  king's  a™d  Yf? 
court.     But  Little  John  was  rather  sulky,  for  at  Court 
he  wanted  to  stay  and  taste  court  life.     He 
would  have  liked  to  hear  the  song  Will  Scar- 
lett sang  to  his  princess: 


f     f     ? 
And    we    will    all 


the    pleas  -  ures    prove, 


And    all    the     crag    -  gy   moun- tains    yield. 
13 


194 


Ixotrin  Jjtoob 


The 

Adven- 
ture of 
Robin 
Hood 
and  Will 
Scarlett 
at  Court 


And  we  will  sit  upon  the  rocks, 
And  see  the  shepherds  feed  their  flocks 
By  shallow  rivers,  to  whose  falls 
Melodious  birds  sing  madrigals. 
By  shallow  rivers,  to  whose  falls 
Melodious  birds  sing  madrigals. 

There  will  I  make  thee  beds  of  roses 
And  a  thousand  fragrant  posies ; 
A  cap  of  floers,  and  a  kirtle 
Embroider'd  all  with  leaves  of  myrtle 
A  cap  of  flowers,  and  a  kirtle 
Embroider'd  all  with  leaves  of  myrtle. 

A  gown  made  of  the  finest  wool, 
Which  from  our  pretty  lambs  we  pull 
Fair  lined  slippers  for  the  cold, 
With  buckles  of  the  purest  gold. 
Fair  lined  slippers  for  the  cold, 
With  buckles  of  the  purest  gold. 

Thy  silver  dishes  for  thy  meat 
As  precious  as  the  gods  do  eat, 
Shall  on  an  ivory  table  be 
Prepar'd  each  day  for  thee  and  me. 
Shall  on  an  ivory  table  be 
Prepar'd  each  day  for  thee  and  me. 

The  shepherd  swains  shall  dance  and  sing 
For  thy  delight  each  May  morning : 
If  these  delights  thy  mind  may  move, 
Then  live  with  me  and  be  my  love. 
If  these  delights  thy  mind  may  move, 
Then  live  with  me  and  be  my  love. 


anb  %fc  Jflerrp  JWen 


Chapter  XIV 

IT  was  a  beautiful  day  in  early  spring. 
The  little  buds  were  just  breaking  on 
the  oaks,  and  the  lilacs  were  making  a  laven- 
der mist  all  over  the  young  bushes.  The 
outlaws  had  prepared  a  great  feast,  and  had 
wreathed  the  table  with  young  leaves  and 
yellow  crocuses.     Marian  only  did  not  eat. 

"Prithee,  Marian,"  said  Robin,  "are  you 
ill,  that  you  do  not  eat?" 

"Nay,"  she  said,  "but  I  am  tired  of  veni- 
son. It  seems  to  me  that  I  have  had  nothing 
but  that  ever  since  I  came  to  this  greenwood." 

"Tell  me  what  else  you  want,"  said  Robin. 
"  I  will  ride  to  Nottingham  and  buy  it." 

"You  cannot,"  she  said,  "for  I  want  noth- 
ing but  fish  freshly  caught  out  of  the  sea ;  and 
how  am  I  to  get  that?  " 


13 


195 


196  jforfjUj   i)oob 

2?oW»  ' '  You  shall  have  it, ' '  Robin  replied.  ' '  I  am 
on  the  tired  of  hunting;  I  shall  go  to  Scarborough 
Sea  town  and  turn  fisherman  for  a  time,  and  bring 
you  back  plenty  of  fish." 

"Faith,  good  Robin,"  said  jolly  Friar 
Tuck,  "I  hope  you  will  leave  your  bow  behind; 
else  the  very  fishes  will  swim  away  from  you." 

"Nay,"  said  Robin,  "I  am  not  sure  that  I 
can  fish,  but  I  know  that  I  can  shoot.  I  shall 
feel  safer  if  I  take  my  good  bow,  but  I  shall 
wrap  it  in  a  long  cloth  so  that  no  one  may 
guess  I  am  a  bowman." 

Marian  found  a  homespun  suit  for  Robin, 
and  he  set  off,  with  a  few  pennies  in  his  pocket, 
for  the  fishing  town  of  Scarborough.  It  was 
a  little  place,  not  half  the  size  of  Nottingham. 
The  people  were  nearly  all  fishers,  and  their 
houses  were  clustered  close  to  the  sea,  from 
which  they  got  their  living.  The  shore  was 
littered  with  boats  and  nets.  The  place 
looked  strange  to  Robin  because  there  were 
few  trees  and  gardens,  and  the  salt  air  did 
not  smell  like  the  air  in  Sherwood  Forest. 

He  wandered  down  the  one  narrow  street 
of  the  town  until  he  came  to  a  cottage  at  the 
door  of  which  stood  an  old  woman,  knitting. 

"Good  dame,"  said  Robin,  "I  am  looking 


anb  $t*  jfflerrp  jfflen  197 


for  a  boat  in  which  I  can  hire  as  a  fisherman.  Robin 
Do  you  know  any  such  ? "  0»  ;/ze 


The  old  woman  put  down  her  knitting  and 
gazed  searchingly  at  Robin. 

"You  seem  an  able-bodied  man,"  she  said,  at 
last,  "and  I  am  willing  to  give  you  work.  My 
husband,  Captain  Simon,  sails  my  boat,  and 
he  is  short  a  man.     I  will  take  you  to  him." 

She  went  with  him  down  to  the  shore  where 
Captain  Simon  and  his  fishers  were  getting 
ready  to  launch  a  boat.  It  was  a  large  boat 
with  a  high  cabin  and  three  sails,  but  it 
looked  very  small  to  Robin,  used  to  the  large 
spaces  in  Sherwood  Forest. 

"Simon,"  said  the  old  woman,  "here  is  a 
man  who  wants  to  fish  with  you." 

Captain  Simon  looked  sharply  at  Robin. 

"Will  you  work  hard,  my  man?"  he  asked. 

"Aye;  and  I  ask  only  a  penny  for  my 
wages,  and  a  few  fish  at  the  end." 

"By  my  life ! "  said  the  fisher,  "you  must  be 
a  useless  fellow  or  you  would  not  be  willing 
to  come  for  a  penny.  However,  I  will  try 
you.     What  is  that  long  bundle  you  carry  ? ' ' 

"That  is  something  I  always  find  useful," 
replied  Robin.  "I  pray  you,  let  it  come  with 
me.     It  takes  up  but  little  room." 


Sea 


198  &obm  i)oob 

Robin      "Hasten  then,"  said  Captain  Simon.     "It 
on  °the  is  time  the  boat  was  off,  if  we  are  to  do  deep- 
Sea  sea  fishing  to-morrow." 

He  bade  his  wife  good-by,  and  he  and  his 
men  pushed  off  the  boat,  and  raised  the  sails. 
Robin  had  never  been  in  a  boat  before,  and 
while  they  were  in  the  harbor  he  enjoyed  the 
gentle  motion.  He  liked  to  see  the  sunlight 
shining  on  the  green  waves,  while  the  little 
town  of  Scarborough  slipped  farther  and 
farther  away.  But  as  soon  as  they  were  out- 
side the  harbor  the  boat  began  to  pitch  and 
toss,  to  Robin's  great  distress.  He  was  very 
ill,  but  no  one  showed  any  sympathy  for  him. 
"If  you  were  really  a  fisherman,"  said  the 
captain,  "you  would  be  able  to  bear  a  gentle 
sea  like  this." 

Robin  only  clung  to  his  bow,  and  wished 
he  were  in  the  greenwood,  and  wondered  if 
he  would  live  long  enough  to  catch  the  fish  for 
his  dear  Marian.  But  the  next  morning,  he 
was  quite  well,  and  eager  to  begin  fishing. 

But  he  was  so  awkward  in  his  attempts 
that  Captain  Simon  became  very  impatient 
with  him.  First  of  all,  he  cast  in  his  lines 
without  bait.  When  the  laughter  of  the 
fishermen  showed  him  his  mistake,  he  tried 


attb  %te  Jtterrp  jWen  199 

to  bait  his  lines.     He  was  skillful  with  his  Robin 
fingers,  as  every  man  who  handled  the  bow  on  the 
well  must  needs  be;  so  he  was  able  to  put  Sea 
the  bait  on  without  mishap.     But  when  it 
came  to  casting  the  lines,  he  blundered  again. 
He  got  them  tangled  with  the  lines  of  the 
other  fishermen,  and  even  with  the  rigging 
of  the  boat. 

"You  are  a  useless  lubber!"  said  the  cap- 
tain, angrily.  "You  are  frightening  all  the 
fish  away.     I  am  sorry  I  took  you  on  board." 

"Never  fear,"  said  Robin;  "I  shall  soon 
learn,  Master  Captain." 

"I  hope  you  will,"  replied  the  captain; 
"you  had  better.  If  you  make  any  more 
mistakes,  I  am  going  to  tie  you  to  the  mast." 

Robin  smiled.  He  was  sure  that  he  was 
not  going  to  make  any  more  mistakes;  but 
he  was  too  confident.  At  the  end  of  the  boat 
hung  a  dragnet.  The  captain  ordered  him 
and  one  of  the  fishermen  to  draw  it  up.  Each 
took  an  end,  and  pulled  and  pulled. 

"It  comes  heavily,"  said  Robin  Hood; 
"there  must  be  a  good  catch." 

"I  am  glad  of  that,"  said  the  other,  "for 
it  will  please  the  captain." 

Higher  and  higher  came  the  net,  until  it 


200  &obm  I)oQi) 

i?oW«  rose  out  of  the  water  and  they  could  see  the 

on  the  silver  scales  of  the  fish  shining  in  the  sunlight. 

ea  At  that  moment  the  ship  gave  a  heavy  lurch. 

Robin  Hood  was  not  yet  steady  in  his  footing 

and  he  slipped  and  fell,  dropping  his  end  of 

the  net.     Down  went  the  catch  into  the  sea. 

The  captain  ran  to  Robin  and  tried  to 
strike  him,  but  Robin  parried  the  blow. 

"Seize  him,  men! "  cried  the  captain.  "Bind 
him  to  the  mast!" 

The  sailors  obeyed,  and  though  Robin 
struggled,  they  were  too  many  for  him. 
They  tied  him  with  ropes  to  the  mast,  and 
there  he  stood  in  the  hot  sun,  harkening  to 
the  angry  scolding  of  the  captain.  The 
fishermen  listened  in  amazement.  They  had 
never  seen  their  master  so  angry,  and  they 
were  afraid  he  might  kill  Robin  Hood.  They 
were  sorry,  for  they  liked  Robin,  in  spite  of 
his  blunders.  Robin  was  angry,  too.  He 
wished  himself  back  in  the  greenwood,  where 
his  men  always  showed  him  respect  and 
affection.  But  he  said  nothing,  for  he  knew 
that  to  show  self-control  was  greater  than  to 
fish  well  or  shoot  well. 

While  the  captain  was  abusing  Robin 'all 
the  men  had  their  faces  toward  the  outlaw, 


anb  %tg  ffltxvy  Mm  201 

and  away  from  the  sea.     Now  one  of  them  Robin 

Hood 

turned  away  and  looked  out  over  the  water,  on  the 
Then  he  gave  a  great  shout. 

"Master!  Captain!"  he  cried.  "Look! 
There,  there!" 

All  the  men  looked.  Sailing  swiftly  toward 
them  was  a  French  boat.  The  captain  pulled 
nervously  at  his  beard. 

"Turn    the    boat,"    he    said.     "There    is 
1  nothing  to  do  but  try  to  run  away." 

"What!"  cried  Robin.  "Run  away  from 
an  enemy!" 

"The  French  boat  is  bigger  than  ours," 
said  one  of  the  fishermen.  "If  the  Frenchmen 
catch  us,  they  will  take  our  fish  and  all  that 
we  have  and  sink  our  boat,  and  kill  us." 

"No,  no,"  said  Robin,  "I  will  save  you. 
Bring  me  my  good  bow;  bring  me  the  long 
bundle  wrapped  in  cloth." 

The  captain  struck  him. 

"Keep  silent,"  he  said.  "You  could  not 
fish;  how  can  you  save  us?" 

"You  deserve  to  drown  for  striking  a 
defenseless  man,"  said  Robin;  "but  bring  me 
the  bow." 

The  captain  hesitated,  and  then  he  said: 

"At  least,  it  can  do  no  harm  to  try." 


202  ftoftin  gjoojj 

i?o6i«  One  of  the  men  brought  Robin  Hood  his 
on  the  bow,  while  another  unbound  his  arms.  In 
ea  the  meantime,  some  of  the  fishers  had  turned 
the  boat,  and  they  sailed  as  fast  as  they  could 
toward  the  English  shore.  But  the  French 
boat  was  more  lightly  built  than  theirs,  and 
it  gained  every  minute.  The  men  looked  in 
despair  at  the  enemy,  coming  nearer  and 
nearer. 

Robin,  however,  showed  no  anxiety.  He' 
rubbed  his  arms,  which  were  stiff  from  the 
ropes  which  had  bound  him.  Then  he  care- 
fully chose  an  arrow  and  fitted  it  to  his  bow. 
The  fishermen  kept  glancing  from  him  to  the 
French  ship.  Robin  lifted  his  bow.  The 
French  boat  was  now  so  near  that  with  his 
sharp  eyes  he  could  see  the  faces  of  the  men 
on  the  deck.  He  took  for  his  target  the  man 
whom  he  judged  to  be  captain.  Then  he 
sent  an  arrow  through  the  air  like  a  bird. 

In  a  moment  a  loud  cry  rose  from  the  deck 
of  the  French  ship;  the  captain  was  struck 
down.  But  scarcely  had  they  stooped  to 
raise  him  when  Robin  shot  again.  Arrow 
after  arrow  he  sent,  until  the  French  in  fear 
turned  to  escape. 

"After  them!"  cried  Robin  to  the  captain. 


anb  gig  jftlerrp  jtten  203 

"We   must    take   this   enemy   of   our   dear  Robin 
England.     Turn  the  ship,  captain."  0n°the 

The  captain  gave  the  order,   and  now  it  Sea 
was  the  English  boat  that  chased  the  French. 

"That  is  better,"  said  Robin,  as  he  shot 
again.  "I  could  not  bear  to  be  running  away 
from  an  enemy." 

The  French  sailors  were  so  frightened  that 
they  were  no  longer  able  to  manage  their 
boat  skillfully,  and  soon  the  English  over- 
took them.  Robin  leaped  to  the  deck  of 
the  French  boat,  bow  in  hand. 

' '  Surrender ! "  he  cried.  ' '  Surrender  to  Eng- 
land!" 

The  French  surrendered,  and  begged  for 
their  lives. 

"Have  you  treasure  on  board?"  asked 
Robin. 

"A  thousand  pounds  of  gold,"  they  said. 

"You  must  forfeit  it,"  ordered  the  bowman, 
"for  that  is  the  law  of  the  sea.  You  should 
also  forfeit  your  boat;  but  that  I  give  to  you." 

Two  of  the  Frenchmen  went  below  to  the 
treasure  chest,  and  brought  Robin  bag  after 
bag  of  gold,  till  the  thousand  pounds  were 
piled  before  him.  Robin,  his  bow  still  strung, 
in   case   of   treachery,    ordered   the   English 


204    •  &oftm  j|oob 

RoUn  sailors  to  carry  the  treasure  to  their  ship. 
on  the  Then  he  leaped  backward  after  them, 
Sea  and  commanded  the  Frenchmen  to  sail  back 
to  their  own  country.  He  kept  his  bow  in 
position  until  they  were  too  far  away  to 
throw  a  knife  or  dagger  at  the  Englishmen. 
Then  he  turned  to  Captain  Simon. 

"Am  I  still  a  worthless  landlubber,  cap- 
tain?" he  asked,  smiling. 

"I  crave  your  pardon,"  said  the  captain. 
"A  landlubber  you  are,  for  I  still  maintain 
that  you  are  a  poor  fisher;  but  you  are  far 
from  worthless.  I  thank  you  for  my  life, 
and  for  the  lives  of  my  men." 

"You  are  heartily  welcome,"  replied  Robin. 

"This  thousand  pounds  of  gold,"  said  the 
captain,  "belongs,  according  to  law,  half 
to  the  king  and  half  to  you." 

"Nay,"  said  Robin,  "I  did  not  bargain  for 
gold.   I  asked  but  a  catch  of  fish  and  a  penny. ' ' 

"Nevertheless,"  said  the  captain,  "the 
money  is  yours." 

"I  will  take  it,  then,"  said  Robin,  "and 
in  your  town  of  Scarborough  I  will  have 
built  an  almshouse  for  sailors." 

At  this  the  men  loudly  cheered  Robin. 
They    showed    him    great    respect    on    the 


anb  SMs  Jtterrp  iMen 


205 


voyage  home,  for  they  had  now  begun  to  Robin 
suspect  who  he  was.     There  was  but  one  on  the 
man  in  England,  they  thought,  who  could Sea 
shoot  so  well.     Robin  Hood  told  jthem  stories 
of  his  life  in  the  greenwood,  and  praised  the 
simple  pleasures  he  and  his  bowmen  loved. 

As  the  little  town  of  Scarborough  came  into 
sight,  he  laughed  and  said,  "In  faith  I  shall 
be  glad  to  set  foot  on  dry  land  "and  get  back 
to  my  forest.     I  have  done  my  last  fishing." 

They  followed  him  as  he  leaped  ashore, 
and  begged  him  to  stay  with  them.  He 
remained  for  one  meal,  and  as  he  rested 
after  it,  they  sang  and  danced  for  him. 
Robin  remembered  the  air  and  the  words, 
that  he  might  repeat  them  to  Much  and 
George-a-Green. 


3 


* 


-&r 


-fan. 


We        be     three     poor     mar   -   i      -     ners, 
We       care  not       for      those    mar  -  tial    men 


1^— S" 


-&- 


-!§-!-<a 


i!5>— <^- 


1Z. 


-#-  * 


New-ly  come  from  the  seas;  We  spend  our  lives  in 
That  do  our  states  dis -dain;  But  we    care  for   the 


206 


Eobtn  itoob 


Robin 

Hood 

on  the 

Sea 


^=^z=±s: 


tS- 


22 


«<• 


&w 


jeop  -  ard    -    y,      While     oth  -  ers   live     at    ease, 
mer  -  chant  -  men    Who       do      our  states  main-tain. 


1 


-+ 


1 1 — m — & *a 


S 


-«-. 


Hi 


i — « — "i — ga .    <h 


*r^— ^- 


Shall     we     go  dance  the     round,     the    round?  Shall 
To    them  we    dance  this  round, a-round,  a-round,  To 


-&- 


<S> &- 


ij@=±&$t3±:i=g=g. 


go    dance  the  round,  the  round,  the  round?  And 
we  dance  this  round, this  round, this  round;  And 


19- 


he 
he 


i: 


■S 


-« — «- 


that    is        a        bul    -    ly 
that    is       a        bul    -    ly 


boy,     Come 
boy,    Come 


is: 


:*=* 


-« 


pledge 
pledge 


-&- 


me 
me 


227 


— i # 


II 


on     this    ground,  a-ground,  a-ground. 
on    this   ground,  a-ground,  a-ground. 


Then  the  fishermen  loaded  him  with  all 
the  fish  he  could  carry,  folded  in  their  best 


anb  3!te  ffltvxp  jMen 


207 


Robin  set 
off  gayly 
to  the 
forest  with 
his  silver 
burden 


208  Motrin  Jitoob 


Robin  net#     Robin  set  off  gayly  to  the  forest  with 

on  the  his  silver  burden.     He  forgot  all  about  the 

dancing   green    waves.     He    could    see    only 

Marian's  dark,  sweet  face  against  the  green 

leaves  of  their  home. 


anb  jte  ffltttp  Mm 


Chapter  XV 

ONE  day  Robin  Hood  and  Marian  were 
wandering  through  Sherwood  Forest 
near  the  Roman  road.  They  liked  to  see  the 
life  of  the  world,  to  which  they  did  not 
belong,  passing  by  along  the  road  on  foot 
or  on  horseback. 

Presently  they  heard  a  very  gay  voice  sing- 
ing this  song: 


=tehi 


U0 


---x 


=t 


0-0  i 


it    was  a  frog  in  the  well,  humbledum,  humbledum, 


0— ^— # 

0—0—0—0 


-0—0- 


-0-\ — I 1 1 1- 

0-4 


And  the  merry  mouse  in  the  mill,tweedle,tweedle,  twine. 


209 


210 


&obm  jkiob 


Robin  "The  frog  would  a- wooing  ride,  humbledum,  humble- 
Hood  -. 

and  dum, 

Allen-a-    Sword  and  buckler  by  his  side,  tweedle,  tweedle,  twine. 
Dale 

"When  upon  his  high  horse  set,  humbledum,  humble- 
dum, 
His  boots  they  shone  as  black  as  jet,  tweedle,  tweedle, 
twine. 

"When  he  came  to  the  merry  mill  pin,  humbledum, 
humbledum, 
'Lady  Mouse,   are  you  within?'   Tweedle,    tweedle, 
twine. 

"  Then  came  out  the  dusty  mouse,  humbledum  humble- 
dum; 
'I  am  lady  of  this  house'.     Tweedle,  tweedle,  twine. 

"  'Hast  thou  any  mind  of  me?'  Humbledum,  humbledum. 
'I  have  e'en  a  great  mind  of  thee,'  tweedle,  tweedle, 
twine. 

' '  'Who  shall  this  marriage  make  ?'  Humbledum,  humble- 
dum. 
'Our  lord,  which  is  the  rat.'     Tweedle,  tweedle,  twine. 

"'What  shall  we  have  to  our  supper? '    Humbledum, 
humbledum. 
'Three  beans  in  a  pound  of  butter.'  Tweedle,  tweedle, 
twine. 

"But,  when  supper  they  were  at,  humbledum,  humble- 
dum, 
The  frog,  the  mouse,  and  e'en  the  rat,  tweedle,  tweedle, 
twine. 


anb  %ig  ffltxty  JWen  211 

"Then  came  in  Gib,  our  cat,  humbledum,  humbledum;  Robin 

And   caught  the  mouse  e'en  by  the  back,  tweedle,       ? 

tweedle,  twine.  Allen-a- 

Dale 

"Then  did  they  separate,  humbledum,  humbledum; 

The  frog  leapt  on  the  floor  so  flat,  tweedle,  tweedle, 

twine. 

"Then  came  in  Dick,  our  drake,  humbledum,  humble- 
dum, 
And  drew  the  frog  e'en  to  the  lake,  tweedle,  tweedle, 
twine. 

"The  rat  he  ran  up  the  wall,  humbledum,  humbledum, 
And  so    the  company  parted  all,  tweedle,  tweedle, 
twine." 

"That  is  a  pretty  tune,"  said  Marian; 
"and  he  who  sings  it  is  a  pretty  young 
man." 

He  was  a  tall,  fair  youth,  clad  all  in  scarlet 
and  gold.  His  scarlet  leather  shoes  were 
embroidered  in  gold,  and  his  silken  doublet 
was  sewn  with  go.d  thread.  His  fair  curls 
were  as  bright  as  the  sunshine,  and  his  eyes 
and  lips  were  laughing. 

"I  have  seldom  seen  a  happier  face," 
said  Robin.     "I  wish  him  good  fortune." 

The  very  next  day  they  were  walking  in 
the  forest,  accompanied  by  Friar  Tuck  and 

14 


212  &oftm  ptoob 

R£Und  Little  John,  when  they  met  the  same  young 
and  man.  His  head  was  bent,  his  eyes  were  on 
Dale  the  ground ;  he  had  lost  his  hat,  and  his 
fair  curls  were  uncombed.  His  horse  fol- 
lowed him,  whinnying,  and  tangling  his 
forefeet  in  the  dragging  bridle  reins.  When 
they  saw  him  Robin  Hood  and  Little  John, 
from  force  of  habit,  lifted  their  bows. 

"Shoot,"  he  said.  "Life  is  no  longer  glad 
for  me;  I  pray  you,  shoot." 

"No  man  has  ever  dared  come  thus  far 
into  my  retreat,"  said  Robin  Hood.  "It 
is  against  my  law." 

"Then  punish  me  for  breaking  your  law," 
said  the  young  man ;  ' '  and  take  what  wealth 
I  have  left,  too.  It  is  but  seven  pounds  of 
money,  and  a  golden  ring  that  I  had  been 
saving  these  seven  years  for  my  wedding." 

"You  must  have  suffered  some  great  mis- 
fortune," said  Robin  Hood,  "since  you  are 
so  ready  to  part  with  your  life  and  your 
money." 

"I  have,"  replied  the  young  man. 

"What  is  your  name?"  asked  Robin. 

"Allen-a-Dale." 

"Tell  me  your  trouble,  good  Allen,"  said 
Robin.     "It  may  be  that  I  can  help  you." 


anb  %te  ffltvty  Jfflen  213 

"Nay,  my  case  is  beyond  help,"  said  Allen-  Robin 
a-Dale,  hopelessly.     "You  must  know  that  I  and 
was  brought  up  as  a  page  in  the  castle  of  the  £>JeMa" 
noble  Earl  of  Scar.     First  I  was  his  page,  and 
as  such  played  often  with  his  daughter,  Lady 
Katherine.     Later,  when  I  was  a  squire,  and 
then  a  knight,  I  still  thought  of  Katherine. 
Seven  years  ago,  just  before  I  rode  forth  on 
my  adventures,  we  were  betrothed.     I  rode 
back    yesterday    with    great    gladness,    for 
to-day  had  been  set  for  our  wedding." 

Here  Allen-a-Dale  broke  off,  and  sighed 
deeply. 

"When  I  reached  Scar  Castle,"  he  said, 
"I  was  met  coldly.  The  Earl  of  Scar  was 
from  home,  I  was  told;  his  lady  could  not 
see  me,  and  Lady  Katherine  was  busy  in 
her  chamber.  I  waited  wonderingly  until 
the  earl  came  back  from  hunting.  He  told 
me  with  scant  courtesy  that  I  should  not 
marry  Lady  Katherine;  that  he  had  agreed 
that  she  should  marry  the  old  Knight  of 
the  Marshes,  a  very  rich  man." 

Marian  listened  sympathetically. 

"But  could  you  not  get  speech  with  the 
Lady  Katherine?"  she  asked.  "Does  she 
not  still  love  you?" 


2H  3Ro6m  l)oob 

^Jj*  "I  do  not  know,"  said  the  youth.  "A 
and  fortnight  ago  she  did,  for  I  had  a  message 
Dale  from  her  by  a  trusty  servant." 

"I  am  sure  she  would  not  change  in  two 
weeks,"  Marian  replied. 

"Yet  that  avails  me  nothing,"  said  Allen- 
a-Dale,  sadly,  "since  in  a  few  hours  she  is 
to  marry  this  old  Knight  of  the  Marshes." 

"The  Earl  of  Scar  has  done  wrong  to  break 
his  word,"  said  Robin.  "Where  does  he 
intend  to  hold  this  wedding?" 

"It  will  be  held  in  Scar  Chapel,  not  five 
miles  away,"  sighed  the  youth. 

"Nay,  speak  not  so  dolefully;  I  do  not 
think  it  will  be  held,"  said  Robin.  "Do 
you  follow  my  advice,  and  you  may  yet 
marry  the  Lady  Katherine  to-day." 

Allen-a-Dale  looked  up  wonderingly. 

"Trust  him,"  said  Marian.  "Whatever 
he  undertakes,  succeeds." 

Robin  Hood  lost  no  time  in  getting  back 
to  the  clearing  in  the  greenwood.  There 
Marian  found  for  him  a  long  gray  robe  and 
a  flowing  gray  wig,  and  Much  gave  him  his 
harp. 

"Truly,"  said  Marian,  "you  look  now  like 
a  very  ancient  harper." 


anb  |jte  JWerrp  JWen  215 

"When  they  hear  me  singing  the  songs  j^Jj* 
of  Much,  the  miller's  son,  they  will  think  and 
I    am    a   good    one,"    said    Robin.     "Now,  Dale 
hand  me  my  bugle;  and,   Little  John   and 
Much,    remember   well    the    orders    I    have 
given  you." 

He  set  off  on  foot  for  Scar  Chapel,  followed 
at  a  distance  of  half  a  mile  by  fifty  of  his 
men.  He  walked  briskly  until  he  was  close 
to  Scar  Castle.  Then  he  slowed  his  pace 
to  one  more  befitting  an  aged  man. 

The  castle  of  the  Earl  of  Scar  was  built 
of  dark  gray  stone,  and  was  almost  covered 
with  green  ivy.  Servants  were  hurrying  to 
and  fro,  from  kitchen  to  hall,  speeding  the 
wedding  feast.  The  earl  and  his  wife  were 
in  their  great  coach,  ready  to  ride  to  Scar 
Chapel.  The  priest  who  was  to  perform 
the  ceremony  was  clad  in  his  vestments. 
Only  the  bride  was  lingering,  weeping  in  her 
own  room,  and  thinking  of  Allen-a-Dale, 
whom  she  loved.  Just  as  she  came  down  the 
great  stairway,  accompanied  by  her  maidens, 
Robin  Hood  struck  up  his  music.  He  sang 
a  beautiful  wedding  song,  and  the  earl, 
listening,  said: 

"That  is  a  good  musician.     Let  him  join 


216  foobtn  j|oob 

jgw»  the  other  harpers,  and  make  music  for  us 
and  on  the  way  to  the  chapel." 
Dale  So  Robin  Hood  headed  the  procession  of 
musicians,  and  the  wedding  party  proceeded 
to  the  church,  the  villagers  strewing  the 
path  with  flowers.  At  the  door  they  were 
met  by  the  Knight  of  the  Marshes. 

Robin  pressed  his  way  up  close  to  the  altar, 
which  was  covered  with  an  embroidered 
cloth  of  white  and  gold  and  bore  many 
lighted  candles.  It  was  a  small  chapel, 
with  oaken  piers  and  narrow  windows. 
Robin  was  glad  to  see  that  these  windows 
were  open,  and  that  the  door,  too,  was  left 
ajar.  The  priest  came  up  to  the  altar,  and 
then  pale,  sad  Lady  Katherine  followed, 
leaning  on  her  father's  arm.  The  Knight 
of  the  Marshes  took  his  place  by  her  side. 

Just  then  Robin  Hood  blew  a  loud  blast  on 
his  bugle.  Then  he  took  his  long  bow  from 
under  his  cloak,  and  fitted  an  arrow  to  it. 

"What  does  this  mean?"  cried  the  Earl 
of  Scar. 

As  he  spoke,  fifty  green-clad  bowmen, 
Allen-a-Dale  at  their  head,  leaped  through 
the  windows  and  in  at  the  door,  their  bows 
ready  to  shoot. 


anb  p)te  Mttvy  ffltn  217 

"It  means,"   said  Robin  Hood,    "that  I  g*§» 
like  not  the  bridegroom  you  have  chosen,  and 
There  shall  be  a  wedding  here,  but  the  bride  Dale 
shall  marry  the  man  she- loves." 

"How  dare  you  speak  thus  in  the  church? " 
demanded  the  priest.  ' '  The  maiden  is  marry- 
ing the  man  of  her  choice." 

The  Earl  of  Scar  and  the  Knight  of  the 
Marshes  had  drawn  their  swords,  and  so 
had  some  of  their  followers.  But  under  the 
threatening  arrows  they  dared  not  use  their 
steel. 

"Step  forward,  Allen-a-Dale,"  commanded 
Robin  Hood. 

Allen  came  forward,  clad  in  green  like  the 
archers,  a  bow  and  arrow  in  his  hand. 

"Lady  Katherine,"  said  Robin  gently, 
"do  you  indeed  still  love  Allen-a-Dale,  and 
do  you  still  wish  to  marry  him?" 

The  Lady  Katherine  was  a  timid  maiden, 
and  she  looked  in  fear  at  her  father. 

"Do  not  be  afraid,"  Robin  said.  "What- 
ever your  answer  is,  I  will  see  that  no  harm 
comes  to  you  or  to  Allen." 

"Yes,"  she  said;  "yes,  I  wish  to  marry 
Allen-a-Dale." 

"That  is  enough,"  said  Robin.     Then  he 


218  £ot)in  l)oob 

*****  added  to  the  priest,   "Sir,  the  maiden  has 
and,  chosen." 

Dale      "I  forbid  you  to  marry  her  to  Allen-a- 
Dale,"  thundered  the  Earl  of  Scar. 

"  Marry  her  to  me,"  commanded  the  Knight 
of  the  Marshes. 

"Marry  her  to  Allen,"  said  Robin  Hood, 
"or  some  who  are  here  shall  not  go  forth 
alive." 

The  priest  hesitated,  and  then  he  said: 

"Whatever  befall  me,  I  will  marry  the 
maiden  to  the  man  she  has  chosen." 

"Well  spoken,"  said  Robin;  "if  the  Earl  of 
Scar  attempt  to  punish  you  for  doing  your 
duty,  I  shall  see  that  he  surfers  for  it.  Begin, 
good  father;  I  shall  give  away  the  bride." 

The  priest  married  them,  his  voice  trem- 
bling, for  he  was  afraid  of  the  two  lords. 
Lady  Katherine's  voice  also  trembled,  but 
Allen-a-Dale  called  forth  his  responses  loudly 
and  happily. 

When  the  marriage  was  over,  Robin  Hood 
said  to  Allen-a-Dale: 

"Take  your  bride,  and  mount  her  on  the 
white  palfrey  without.  Then  ride  quickly 
to  my  Lady  Marian." 

For   ten   minutes    the    bowmen    held    all 


anb  %te  fflttxy  Mm 


219 


"The 

priest 

married 

them, 

his  voice 

trembling' 


220  JAolnn  l)oob 

*jjj*  in  the  church  at  their  mercy.  Then  they 
and  cautiously  backed  to  the  doors,  Robin  last, 
Dale  and  once  outside  they  ran  like  deer.  They 
heard  great  shouting  in  the  church,  and 
looking  back,  saw  the  people  pouring  out 
and  gazing  after  them.  Two  or  three  knights 
mounted  their  horses,  but  no  one  pursued 
them.  They  ran  until  they  were  quite  out 
of  danger,  and  then  walked  briskly  to  the 
clearing  in  Sherwood  Forest.  They  there 
found  Allen-a-Dale  and  his  bride  seated  at 
their  wedding  feast. 

"Welcome!"  cried  Robin  Hood.  "Here 
you  shall  stay  with  us  until  Robin  Hood 
has  got  the  king's  pardon.  Then  shall  you 
go  to  the  king's  court  in  London.  And  now, 
let  us  share  in  your  feast." 

"And  well  do  you  deserve  to,"  said  Lady 
Katherine,  timidly,  "for  you  have  this  day 
made  happy  two  people  who,  but  for  you, 
would  have  been  very  miserable." 


anb  Hts  ffltvvy  Mm 


RobinH°ods 
Adventure 
wtththeKng 


Chapter  XVI 

ROBIN  HOOD'S  power  had  wonderfully 
increased.  The  common  people  often 
came  to  Sherwood  Forest  for  his  advice, 
preferring  his  judgment  to  that  of  the  sher- 
iff. Whenever  a  poor  person  wanted  food 
or  clothes  he  asked  Robin  for  them.  The 
sheriff  sent  many  complaints  to  the  king  in 
London,  but  the  king  paid  no  attention  to 
them.  For  the  most  part,  he  was  engaged  in 
war,  and  had  no  time  to  waste  in  pursuit  of 
an  outlaw.  Besides,  he  was  rather  amused 
that  an  outlaw  was  the  real  master  of  Notting- 
ham instead  of  the  sheriff.  Some  of  his 
courtiers  urged  him  to  send  an  army  to  punish 
Robin  Hood. 

"That  would  be  foolish,"   said  the  king; 
' '  they  say  his  band  has  increased  to  fully  two 


m  &oftm  l)oob 

Robin  hundred.     If  I  sent  down  two  hundred  men 

Hood  s 

Adven-  who  do   not   know   Sherwood   Forest,    what 
the  King  would  happen?     They  would  all  be  shot  in 
pieces  while  they  were  trying  to  find  paths 
through  the  woods." 

"Then  send  a  thousand  men,  sire,"  sug- 
gested the  courtiers. 

"Nay,  I  have  better  use  for  my  good 
soldiers  than  to  make  them  food  for  arrows," 
replied  the  king. 

-  "But,  Your  Majesty,"  they  persisted, 
"Robin  Hood  takes  their  money  from  those 
rich  people  who,  according  to  him,  have 
dealt  unjustly  with  the  poor." 

"In  faith,  he  must  have  robbed  many  of 
the  rich!"  laughed  the  king. 

"He  has,  and  soon  we  shall  all  be  poor." 

"Nay,  that  day  is  far  off,"  said  the  king 
lightly. 

"But,  sire,"  said  one  shrewd  old  courtier, 
"it  is  true  that  it  would  take  Robin  Hood 
a  long  time  to  rob  all  the  rich  of  your  great 
England,  yet  at  the  rate  at  which  he  is  slaying 
deer  in  Sherwood  Forest,  they  will  soon  all  be 
gone.  'T  is  said  he  feeds  the  people  on  veni- 
son for  miles  about.  No  man  but  himself,  or 
his  archers,  may  hunt  in  Sherwood  Forest. 


He  makes  all  the  deer  there  his  own  quarry."  £?w» 

^  J        Hood  s 

The  king  by  no  means  always  listened  to  Adven- 
the  woes  of  his  subjects ;  he  took  their  losses  the  King 
lightly  enough.     But  he  was  very  angry  when 
he  was  told  that  his  deer  were  being  killed. 

"Nay,  if  this  be  true,  I  will  punish  the 
man,"  he  said. 

"Then  you  will  send  the  soldiers,  sire?" 
they  asked. 

"Nay,"  replied  the  king,  "I  will  go  down 
to  Nottingham  and  meet  face  to  face  this  man 
who  would  defy  me." 

Refusing  to  listen  to  the  objections  of  his 
courtiers,  he  lost  no  time  in  riding  to  Notting- 
ham with  a  great  array  of  knights.  They 
made  a  magnificent  sight  in  their  rich  clothes 
and  armor.  The  king's  fear  was  that  Robin 
Hood  would  get  wind  of  his  coming;  and  the 
fear  was  rightly  founded.  Robin  had  many 
trusty  friends  among  the  poor  of  Notting- 
hamshire who  were  glad  to  carry  him  news. 

The  king  reached  Nottingham  town  and 
took  up  his  lodging  with  the  Lord  Sheriff. 
The  next  morning  he  set  forth  to  ride  through 
Sherwood  Forest  to  hunt  for  deer  and  for 
the  outlaw.  As  he  and  his  men  passed 
through  the  woods  in  the  direction  of  Robin 


224  ifroftm  j|oob 

RoMn  Hood's  retreat,  the  deer  became  more  and 

Hood s 

Adven-  more  scarce,  until  at  last  not  one  was  to  be 

tltTB  rW%tit 

the  King  seen.  And  though  they  looked  for  Robin 
Hood  even  more  industriously  than  they  did 
for  the  deer,  he  was  not  to  be  found. 

Day  after  day  they  searched  the  woods  as 
thoroughly  as  they  could,  but  many  parts 
were  hedged  about  with  impenetrable  thickets, 
and  among  these  Robin  had  cunning  hiding 
places.  Sometimes  they  wondered  that  no 
arrow  was  shot  at  them  as  a  warning.  They 
should  have  had  a  better  knowledge  of  the 
loyalty  of  Robin  Hood.  After  a  search  of 
two  weeks,  the  king's  impatience  knew  no 
bounds.     At  last  a  forester  offered  a  plan. 

"You  can  find  Robin  Hood,  sire,"  the  man 
said,  "only  if  you  go  to  Sherwood  Forest  in 
disguise.  If  you  should  dress  as  an  abbot 
and,  carrying  a  moneybag,  ride  with  five 
knights,  also  disguised,  through  the  woods, 
you  would  meet  the  great  outlaw." 

"A  good  plan!     Faith!"  said  the  king. 

He  called  on  the  Lord  Sheriff  to  furnish 
him  with  the  disguise.  Over  his  royal  doublet 
he  put  an  abbot's  long  cloak,  and  on  his  head 
a  broad  hat.  Then,  followed  by  five  men  all 
soberly  clad  in  gray  robes,  he  set  off  for  the 


anb  j|ig  Mtxxy  Mm  225 

greenwood.     He  had  gone  some  three  miles  S'6*" 

&  _  a  Hood  s 

from  Nottingham,  and  had  struck  into  the  Adven- 
forest,  when,  at  a  turn  in  the  path  he  was  the  King 
taking,  he  saw  a  company  of  men  clad  in 
green  coats  and  bearing  long  bows  in  their 
hands.  At  their  head  stood  a  tall,  fair,  hand- 
some man  with  laughing  eyes.  He  strode 
to  the  king's  horse  and  took  it  by  the  bridle. 

"Sir  Abbot,"  he  said,  "by  your  leave,  you 
must  bide  for  a  time  with  us.  We  are  men, 
sir,  who  live  on  nothing  but  the  deer  in  the 
king's  forest;  and  as  you  have  plenty  of 
money,  we  must  ask  you  to  give  us  some  for 
the  poor." 

"By  my  life!"  cried  the  king,  "there  are 
many  of  you,  and  I  have  but  forty  pounds. 
I  have  spent  the  last  three  weeks  with  the 
king  in  Nottingham,  where  I  have  given  much 
money  to  many  a  good  lord.  Nevertheless, 
if  I  had  a  hundred  pounds,  I  would  give  it  to 
you  freely." 

"That  is  spoken  generously,"  said  Robin. 

He  held  out  his  hand  for  the  king's  money- 
bag. Then  he  poured  the  shining  coins  on 
the  green  grass,  dividing  them  into  two  parts. 

"Here,  Little  John,"  he  said,  handing  one 
share  to  his  huge  follower;    "put  this  in  our 


226  fooftin  l)oob 

jSfp  chest  from  which  we  dispense  alms  to  the 
Adven-  poor.  Sir  Abbot,"  he  said  with  a  low  bow, 
the  King  "I  give  you  back  half  your  gold,  and  I  trust 
we  shall  meet  again." 

1 '  Gramercy ! ' '  was  the  reply.  ' '  And  as  I  am 
greatly  in  the  king's  favor,  I  bid  you  in  his 
name  to  dine  with  him  at  Nottingham." 

As  he  spoke,  he  drew  aside  his  robe  a  little, 
and  showed  the  king's  great  seal. 

Robin  Hood  bowed  again. 

"I  love  no  man  in  the  world  so  much  as  I 
do  the  King  of  England,"  he  said.  "I  wel- 
come the  sight  of  my  lord's  seal,  and,  Sir 
Abbot,  in  sign  of  the  honor  offered  me,  I  beg 
you,  for  love  of  the  king,  to  dine  with  me 
to-day  under  my  try  sting  tree." 

"Gladly  will  I,"  replied  the  king. 

His  five  followers  exchanged  anxious  looks, 
but  their  lord  gave  no  heed.  He  allowed 
himself  and  his  men  to  be  blindfolded,  and 
then  they  were  led  through  a  twisting  path 
into  Robin  Hood's  great  clearing.  One  of 
the  bowmen  had  run  quickly  to  tell  Marian 
that  guests  were  expected,  so  she  had  all 
ready  silver  basins  of  perfumed  water  and 
sweet  linen  towels. 

Then  they  were  led  to  a  table  spread  with 


anb  j|tg  Jflerrp  jBlen  227 

a  fair  white  cloth.     The  kins:  smiled  when  he  £oW» 

°    _  Hood s 

saw  that  the  meat  consisted  chiefly  of  his  own  Adven- 

tUTE  'With 

venison.  He  had  never  tasted  better  cooked  the  King 
food,  he  said.  Robin  Hood  and  Marian  did 
the  honors,  while  the  bowmen  who  waited  on 
the  table  were  prompt  and  quiet.  When  the 
king  saw  how  readily  Robin's  men  obeyed  him, 
he  said  to  himself: 

"Faith,  I  would  my  subjects  were  as  quick 
to  do  my  bidding!" 

After  the  meal,  Robin  proposed  that  his 
men  should  show  their  skill  in  archery.  So 
they  set  up  a  willow  wand  with  a  rose  garland 
twined  about  it,  at  which  they  were  to  shoot 
from  a  very  considerable  distance. 

The  king  shook  his  head. 

"You  are  too  far  from  your  mark  by  fifty 
paces,"  he  said. 

1 '  Not  so,  Sir  Abbot, ' '  replied  Robin ;  ' '  most 
of  these  men  will  hit  the  wand.  Any  one 
who  fails  to  hit  either  it  or  the  rose  garland 
shall  yield  up  his  bow  and  arrows,  and  shall 
receive  a  blow  on  his  bare  head." 

Then  Robin  shot  first,  splitting  the  wand. 
Little  John,  Much,  George-a-Green,  and 
others  followed,  all  coming  within  the  rose 
garland.     The  king  expressed  great  surprise; 

15 


228  &0jjffl    l)OOtl 

Robin  then  he  asked  Robin  to  shoot  again.     This 
Hood's    .  °  .         . 

4dw«n-  time  the  great  outlaw  was  careless  m  his 

the  King  sighting,  and  for  the  first  time  in  his  life  he 

missed  the  mark. 

"Ha,  master,"  laughed  Little  John,  "now 
must  you  receive  a  buffet  on  the  head." 

"If  so,"  said  Robin,  "Sir  Abbot  here  must 
bestow  it." 

"Right  gladly,"  said  the  king  with  a  grim 

smile,  for  he  was  a  strong  man.     He  turned 

up  the  sleeve  of  his  abbot's  gown,  and  gave 

"    Robin  Hood  such   a  blow  that   Robin  fell 

full  length  on  the  ground. 

The  outlaws  started  forward  angrily,  but 
Robin  ordered  them  back.  He  rose  slowly 
to  his  feet,  and  then  he  knelt  on  one  knee 
and  bowed  low  to  the  king. ' 

"Sire,"  he  said,  "when  you  rolled  back 
your  sleeve  I  saw  the  insignia  of  royalty. 
I  crave  your  mercy.  I  am,  as  I  have  ever 
been,  your  loyal  subject." 

When  he  said  that,  all  the  bowmen  fell 
upon  their  knees,  and  Marian  bowed  very 
low. 

"Rise,  Robin,"  said  the  king.  "I  believe 
you  are  a  true  and  loyal  man.  I  am  safe 
here  in  your  hands  with  my  men." 


attb  %te  JWerrp  jilen 


229 


H  Robin 
fell  full 
length 
on  the 


230  gUrfun  l)ooti 

ifo6*»      "Sire,"  said  Robin,  rising,   "no  man  here 

Hoods  '  °' 

i4rfwn-  would  hurt  you  in  the  slightest." 
the  King  "You  are  a  good  host,  Robin,"  returned 
the  king,  "and  a  good  hunter.  I  forgive  you 
the  killing  of  my  deer;  but  I  must  command 
you  to  be  more  sparing  of  your  shooting  in 
the  future." 

Robin  smiled. 

"Nay,  sire,  we  have  never  killed  need- 
lessly," he  said. 

"We  differ  about  that,"  said  the  king 
dryly.  "But  now,  in  order  that  I  may  be 
sure  about  the  welfare  of  my  deer,  I  bid  you 
back  to  my  court." 

"Back  to  your  court,  sire!"  cried  Robin. 

"Aye,"  replied  the  king,  "I  restore  you 
your  estates  that  were  forfeited;  I  take 
from  you  the  ban  of  outlaw.  You  are  again 
Robert,  Earl  of  Huntington.  I  will  lay 
commands  on  Lord  Fitzwalter  to  forgive 
your  lady,  his  daughter.  What  more  I  and 
the  queen  can  do  to  make  your  life  happy 
in  the  court  shall  be  done.  And,"  continued 
the  king,  a  little  impatiently,  "I  am  not 
wont  to  see  my  favors  received  with  such  a 
grave  face,  my  Lord  of  Huntington." 

Robin  fell  on  his  knee. 


anb  S»te  0Jttty  Mm  231 

"Sire,"  he  said,  "I  am  indeed  grateful  to  j^Jj! 
you.     I  was  but  thinking — ■"  4<foe»- 

"And  what  were  you  thinking,  my  Lord  the  King 
of  Huntington?"  asked  the  king. 

"I  was  thinking  that  our  lives  are  very 
simple  and  happy  here,  sire,"  returned  Robin, 
in  a  low  voice.  "We  commit  no  sins  in  the 
forest;  we  live  in  peace  with  those  who  are 
good,  and  pity  and  punish  those  who  are 
evil,  and  we  help  the  poor.  My  liege,  is 
there  any  court  in  all  this  broad  land  of  which 
one  can  say  so  much?" 

The  king  sighed. 

"In  truth,  my  Lord  of  Huntington,"  he 
said,  "or  Robin  Hood,  as  I  see  you  would 
fain  be  called,  there  are  often  sin  and  treach- 
ery at  court.  I  lay  no  commands  on  you: 
choose  you  then  what  you  will,  or  let  the 
Lady  Marian  choose." 

"Sire,"  said  Marian,  bowing  low,  "I  am 
very  happy  here  in  the  forest  with  Robin." 

"Then  you  will  stay  here,  Robin  Hood?" 
asked  the  king. 

"Sire,"  said  Robin  with  a  bright  smile,  "if 
you  will  grant  us  safe  conduct,  Marian 
and  I  and  seven  score  men  will  come  on  a 
visit  to  your  court.     But  after  that  I  must 


232 


foofttn  goojj 


■&>&*»  e'en  return  to  my  home  here  and  shoot  the 

Hood  s      m  J 

Adven-  king's  deer  as  has  been  my  habit." 

ttiTS  tW%ttl 

the  King  Then  the  outlaws  escorted  the  king  and 
his  party  back  to  the  Roman  road.  After 
they  had  parted,  Little  John  was  so  excited 
at  the  honor  that  had  been  done  them  that 
he  forestalled  Much,  who  would  have  sung 
for  the  bowmen.  This  was  Little  John's 
song: 


Rob  -  in  Hood,  Rob  -  in  Hood,"  said  Lit  -  tie  John, 


-&- 


^>-± &^ 


"Come,  dance      be    -    fore      the      queen    -    a, 


#^^— 9- 


*—*—* 


1 1 y 

In      a    red  pet  -  ti  -  coat  and  a  green  jack-et,  A 


white       hose        and 


a      green 


anb  %te  fflztxy  JWen 


Chapter  XVII 

THERE  were  many  years  during  which 
Robin  Hood  and  his  merry  men  forgot 
that  change  or  old  age  could  come  to  them 
in  the  greenwood.  The  trees  were  the  same, 
for  most  of  them  had  had  their  full  growth 
for  scores  of  years.  The  songs  of  the  birds 
were  as  gay  as  they  had  been  the  first  day 
the  outlaws  had  come  into  the  forest.  The 
songs  of  Much,  the  miller's  son,  were  as 
care  free.  George-a-Green  whistled  as  mer- 
rily as  ever. 

But  after  long  years  the  bowmen  began  to 
see  a  difference.  They  could  no  longer 
shoot  so  skillfully  as  they  had  in  former  times. 
They  cared  less  to  hunt,  and  were  glad  to 
welcome  to  their  number  young  recruits, 
who    would    do    the    heavier    work.     Much 

233 


234  I\olmt  l)00tl 

Deathaf  Degan  to  sing  plaintive  songs ;  George-a-Green's 
Robin  whistling  grew  thin.     Then  some  of  the  older 

Hood  i  •     -i  -i  1 

men  died,  and  were  buried  in  the  forest. 
After  that,  it  seemed  as  if  winter  came  sooner 
and  stayed  longer  than  in  the  old  days. 

Robin,  however,  always  looked  and  spoke 
cheerfully  until  Marian  died.  He  had  never 
thought  of  her  as  changing  from  the  beautiful 
young  girl  who  had  come  to  him,  dressed  as 
a  page,  to  share  his  fortunes.  After  he  lost 
her  he  seemed  to  care  but  little  what  hap- 
oened.     Little  John  tried  to  rouse  him. 

"Master,"  he  said  to  him  one  day,  "since 
your  friend  the  old  king  is  dead  and  a  new 
king  reigns,  do  you  not  know  that  we  are  in 
some  danger?" 

"Is  it  true,  John?"  asked  Robin. 

' '  Aye, ' '  replied  Little  John.  ' '  I  have  heard 
rumors  in  Nottingham  that  a  valiant  knight, 
Sir  Richard  of  Oxenbridge,  is  coming  with 
a  hundred  men  to  give  battle  to  us." 

For  a  moment  Robin  Hood's  eyes  sparkled 
with  their  old  light.  Then  he  dropped  his 
head,  and  said,  listlessly: 

"If  Sir  William  comes,  of  course  we  shall 
meet  his  attack.  But  I  fear  that  our  days 
in  the  greenwood  are  nigh  over." 


anb  ffite  ffltxxy  JWen  235 

"Nay,  master,  we  are  as  strong  yet  as  we  ^he '     , 
were  in  our  prime,"  said  Little  John,  cheerily.  Robin 

"Ah,  John,  your  hair  is  as  silver  as  the  bark 
of  a  birch  tree,  and  your  big  shoulders  are 
bent,"  said  Robin  Hood.  "Nothing  is  as 
it  was  except  your  courage.  Nevertheless, 
if  Sir  William  comes  we  shall  e'en  do  our  best 
to  receive  him." 

A  few  days  later  Robin  was  sitting  with 
Little  John  in  the  clearing  by  the  yew  trees 
when  he  heard  the  steady  tramp  of  men. 
He  put  his  bugle  to  his  lips,  and  sounded 
a  loud  blast.  At  the  same  moment  Sir 
William  of  Oxenbridge  and  a  hundred  bowmen 
came  breaking  their  way  through  the  under- 
brush near  the  clearing.     Robin  Hood  rose. 

"Sirs,  what  seek  ye?"  he  asked. 

"Robin  Hood,  the  outlaw,"  replied  young 
Sir  William,  "and  if  you  can  show  him  to  us, 
I  will  give  you  many  broad  gold  pieces." 

"I  am  here,"  said  Robin. 

Sir  William  started  forward,  but  Little 
John  lifted  his  bow. 

"Nay,  sir,"  said  he,  while  he  listened  to  the 
approach  of  Robin's  men  whom  the  bugle 
had  summoned,  "you  cannot  take  our  master 
without  a  fair  fight." 


236  &obm  %)oob 

n  P*      "So  be  it,"  replied  Sir  William. 

Death  oj  r 

Robin  The  two  bands  drew  up  at  opposite  sides 
of  the  clearing,  and  began  to  fight.  It  was 
many  years  since  Robin's  men  had  battled 
with  any  one.  At  first,  all  their  old  ardor 
came  back  to  them,  and  they  sent  their 
arrows  quickly  and  strongly.  But  soon  Robin 
saw  that  they  began  to  tire.  They  still  shot 
bravely,  but  not  so  quickly.  Nevertheless, 
as  they  were  much  better  archers  than  Sir 
William's  younger  men,  neither  side  had  the 
advantage.  After  a  time,  Sir  William  shouted 
to  Robin  and  asked  him  to  call  a  truce. 
Robin  gave  commands  to  his  men,  and  then 
Sir  William  approached  and  said: 

"  Robin  Hood,  you  fight  well.  The  inten- 
tion was  to  take  you  alive,  throw  you  in 
prison,  and  then  hang  you.  But  if  you  will 
surrender  now,  I  pledge  you  my  word  you 
shall  not  be  hanged." 

"Gramercy,"  said  Robin;  "but  they  would 
keep  me  forever  in  prison." 

"Aye,"  replied  the  knight. 

"Nay,  that  cannot  be,  after  my  free  life 
in  the  greenwood,"  replied  Robin  Hood. 

He  waited  until  Sir  William  had  gone  back 
to  his  men,  and  then  he  gave  the  signal  to 


anb  j|fg  ffltxxy  Jtlen  237 

shoot.     After  half  an  hour  of  grim,   deter-  The 
mined  fighting,  Sir  William  again  called  for  Robin 
a  truce,  and  said:  Hood 

"Robin  Hood,  yield,  and  I  promise  that 
you  shall  have  but  ten  years  of  imprisonment." 

"Faith!"  replied  Robin.  "I  have  not 
that  many  years  to  spend  in  this  world.  Let 
us  fight  on  to  the  death." 

Robin's  archers  felt  renewed  courage  when 
Sir  William  gave  this  proof  that  his  men 
were  weakening.  They  shot  fast  and  as  well 
as  they  could,  and  before  an  hour  had  passed, 
Sir  William  withdrew  his  men. 

"To-morrow,"  he  said,  "we  will  fight  with 
you  again,  and  this  time  we  shall  win  the 
victory." 

When  Sir  William  and  his  followers  had 
disappeared  from  the  greenwood,  Robin  Hood 
sank  to  the  ground. 

"Help  me,  Little  John,"  he  said;  "I  am 
wounded  with  an  arrow." 

Little  John  bent  over  his  master,  and 
plucked  away  the  barb  of  the  arrow.  Then 
he  dressed  the  wound,  while  the  bowmen 
stood  about  anxiously,  looking  sadly  now  at 
him,  now  at  those  of  their  band  who  were 
dead  or  hurt. 


238  &obin  jfoob 

Deathtf  "My  merry  men,"  said  Robin,  "I  am  sick, 
RoUn  and  we  are  nearly  all  old.  To-morrow  -  we 
could  not  win  in  the  right  with  Sir  William's 
young  men.  Therefore,  I  pray  you,  leave 
me  and  this  greenwood.  Go  you  hence  to 
France  or  Spain  or  where  you  will.  Seek 
another  master  and  another  means  of  liveli- 
hood. This  forest  is  no  longer  safe  for  you, 
and  I,  who  am  about  to  die,  can  no  longer 
protect  you." 

They  fell  upon  their  knees  about  him  and 
begged  him  not  to  send  them  away.  They 
said  that  he  would  soon  be  sound,  and  that 
they  could  all  live  as  well  as  ever  in  the 
greenwood.     But  Robin  Hood  was  firm. 

"Take  what  money  and  goods  there  may 
be  in  my  oaken  chests,"  he  said,  "and  bid 
me  farewell.  I  shall  lean  on  Little  John  and 
get  me  to  Kirl  y  Hall,  where  there  is  a  woman 
I  know.  She  will  put  a  leech  to  my  wound. 
If  I  recover  I  will  follow  you.  And  now, 
farewell." 

One  after  another  they  bade  him  farewell, 
the  men  who  had  so  long  worked  and  played 
with  Robin.  He  watched  them  file  away  to 
the  retreat.     Then  he  said  to  Little  John: 

"I   would  fain  see  again  the  oak  under 


anb  j^ig  ffltvtp  jflen  239 

which  Marian  and  I  have  so  often  sat,  but  Pe ,    . 

Death  of 

I  must  not.     Help  me,  I  pray  you,  to  Kirkly  Robin 
Hall."  Hood 

They  walked  throughout  that  night,  rest- 
ing every  few  minutes.  At  dawn  they  were 
in  sight  of  Kirkly  Hall,  which  lay  not  far 
from  Fountains  Abbey. 

It  was  a  low  building  of  white  stone.  The 
woman  who,  Robin  Hood  had  said,  was 
skilled  in  surgery,  came  to  the  door  in  answer 
to  Little  John's  loud  knock. 

"Good  woman,"  said  Robin,  "will  you  set 
a  leech  to  my  wound?" 

She  looked  at  him  eagerly. 

"Yes,"  she  said,  "come  you  in;  but  your 
friend  must  stay  without."  And  she  shut 
the  door  in  the  face  of  Little  John. 

He  went  and  sat  under  a  tree  not  far  from 
the  doorway,  while  the  woman  led  Robin 
Hood  through  a  number  of  passages  until 
they  reached  a  little  corner  room.  It  con- 
tained a  bed  and  a  chair. 

"Lie  on  the  bed,"  said  she,  "and  I  will  set 
the  leech  to  your  wound,  and  otherwise 
bleed  you." 

She  opened  two  of  his  veins;  then  she 
laughed  harshly  and  jumped  to  her  feet. 


240  foobm  goob 

r*«  "Lie  there  and  die,  outlaw,"  she  said,  "and 
Robin  I  will  get  the  price  that  is  upon  your  head." 
00  Then  she  ran  out  of  the  room  and  locked 
the  door.  Robin  Hood  staggered  to  his  feet, 
and  tried  to  stanch  the  fast -flowing  blood, 
but  he  could  not.  Next  he  tried  to  break 
the  lock  of  the  door,  but  it  was  too  strong 
for  him.  At  last  he  bethought  him  of  his 
bugle.  He  went  to  the  window  and,  leaning 
against  it,  blew  a  feeble  note.  It  was  'a  thin 
sound  indeed,  compared  to  the  blast  he  used 
to  blow  in  the  olden  days.  But  Little  John, 
sitting  under  the  tree,  heard  him. 

"Can  my  master  be  making  that  faint 
sound?"  cried  Little  John,  leaping  to  his 
feet.     "He  must  be  near  death,  indeed!" 

He  ran  to  the  outside  door,  and  broke  it 
down.  He  rushed  through  passage  after 
passage,  calling  at  every  door  for  Robin 
Hood.  At  last,  his  master's  feeble  voice 
answered  him,  and  Little  John  broke  into 
the  corner  room.  He  sank  beside  Robin, 
who  lay  on  the  floor. 

"A  boon!"  he  cried.  "Let  me  burn  this 
woman's  house!" 

"Nay,"  said  Robin,  "I  have  never  waged 
war  against  women,   and  I  shall  not  begin 


attb  gtss  Mtvtv  Jflen 


241 


Very 
feebly 
poor 
Robin 
shot  an 


242  &ofttn  %)oob 

The  on  the  day  of  my  death.  But  now,  lift  me, 
e RoUn  good  Little  John,  and  set  me  up  against  the 
Hood  window." 

Little  John  obeyed  him,  and  then  Robin  said : 

"Give  my  bow  and  arrow  into  my  hand. 
I  shall  shoot  the  arrow,  and  where  it  falls 
there  dig  my  grave." 

Little  John,  weeping,  obeyed  him,  and  very 
feebly  poor  Robin  Hood  shot  an  arrow. 
Then  he  dropped  back  into  the  arms  of  his 
faithful  friend. 

"Bury  me  with  my  bow  at  my  side,"  he 
said,  "and  put  a  stone  over  my  grave  so  that 
my  friends  may  know  where  I  lie.". 

Then  he  died,  and  Little  John  buried  him 
.with  many  tears,  and  for  a  number  of  days 
he  could  not  bear  to  leave  the  grave.  But 
at  last  he  set  off  to  join  the  other  bowmen 
abroad.  Before  he  went,  however,  he  chose 
a  stone  for  Robin  Hood's  grave  on  which  he 
carved  the  epitaph: 

"Here  underneath  this  little  stone, 
Lies  Robert,  Earl  of  Huntington. 
No  archer  ever  was  so  good. 
The  people  called  him  Robin  Hood. 
Such  outlaws  as  him  and  his  men, 
England  will  never  see  again." 


anb  l)is  jfWerrp  Jlen 


Robin  Hood  and  Little  John 

i.  When  Robin  Hood  was  about  twenty  years  old, 
With  a  hey  down  down  and  a  down, 
He  happend  to  meet  Little  John, 
A  jolly  brisk  blade,  right  fit  for  the  trade, 
For  he  was  a  lusty  young  man. 

2.  Tho   he  was   calld   Little,   his   limbs   they   were 

large, 
And  his  stature  was  seven  foot  high ; 
Where-ever  he  came,  they  quak'd  at  his  name, 
For  soon  he  would  make  them  to  fly. 

3.  How  they  came  acquainted,  I'll  tell  you  in  brief, 

If  you  will  but  listen  a  while; 
For  this  very  jest,  amongst  all  the  rest, 
I  think  it  may  cause  you  to  smile. 

4.  Bold  Robin  Hood  said  to  his  jolly  bowmen, 

"Pray  tarry  you  here  in  this  grove; 

16  243 


244  j&ojnn  gjoob 

And  see  that  you  all  observe  well  my  call, 
While  through  the  forest  I  rove. 

5.  "We  have  had  no  sport  for  these  fourteen  long 

days, 
Therefore  now  abroad  will  I  go; 
Now  should  I  be  beat,  and  cannot  retreat, 
My  horn  I  will  presently  blow." 

6.  Then  did  he  shake  hands  with  his  merry  men  all, 

And  bid  them  at  present  good-b'w'ye; 
Then,  as  near  a  brook  his  journey  he  took, 
A  stranger  he  chanced  to  spy. 

7.  They  happend  to  meet  on  a  long  narrow  bridge, 

And  neither  of  them  would  give  way; 
Quoth  bold  Robin  Hood,  and  sturdily  stood, 
"I'll  show  you  right  Nottingham  play." 

8.  With  that  from  his  quiver  an  arrow  he  drew, 

A  broad  arrow  with  a  goose- wing: 
The  stranger  reply'd,  "I'll  liquor  thy  hide, 
If  thou  off  erst  to  touch  the  string." 

9.  Quoth  bold  Robin  Hood,  "Thou  dost  prate  like 

an  ass, 
For  were  I  to  bend  but  my  bow, 
I  could  send  a  dart  quite  thro  thy  proud  heart, 
Before  thou  couldst  strike  me  one  blow." 

10.  "Thou  talkst  like  a  coward,"  the  stranger  reply'd; 
"Well  armd  with  a  long  bow  you  stand, 


anb  %>tg  ffltvxy  Mm  245 

To  shoot  at  my  breast,  while  I,  I  protest, 
Have  naught  but  a  staff  in  my  hand." 

11.  "The  name  of  a  coward,"  quoth  Robin,  "I  scorn, 

Wherefore  my  long  bow  I  '11  lay  by; 
And  now,  for  thy  sake,  a  staff  will  I  take, 
The  truth  of  thy  manhood  to  try." 

12.  Then  Robin  Hood  stept  to  a  thicket  of  trees, 

And  chose  him  a  staff  of  ground-oak; 
Now  this  being  done,  away  he  did  run 
To  the  stranger,  and  merrily  spoke : 

13.  "Lo!  see  my  staff,  it  is  lusty  and  tough, 

Now  here  on  the  bridge  we  will  play: 
Whoever  falls  in,  the  other  shall  win 
The  battel,  and  so  we'll  away." 

14.  "With  all  my  whole  heart,"  the  stranger  reply'd; 

"I  scorn  in  the  least  to  give  out"; 
This  said,  they  fell  to 't  without  more  dispute, 
And  their  staffs  they  did  flourish  about. 

15.  And  first  Robin  he  gave  the  stranger  a  bang, 

So  hard  that  it  made  his  bones  ring; 
The  stranger  he  said,  "This  must  be  repaid, 
I  '11  give  you  as  good  as  you  bring. 

16.  "So  long  as  I 'm  able  to  handle  my  staff, 

To  die  in  your  debt,  friend,  I  scorn": 
Then  to  it  each  goes,  and  followd  their  blows, 
As  if  they  had  been  threshing  of  corn. 


246  &ojun  goofr 

17.  The  stranger  gave  Robin  a  crack  on  the  crown, 

Which  caused  the  blood  to  appear; 
Then  Robin,  enrag'd,  more  fiercely  engag'd. 
And  followd  his  blows  more  severe. 

18.  So  thick  and  so  fast  did  he  lay  it  on  him, 

With  a  passionate  fury  and  ire, 
At  every  stroke,  he  made  him  to  smoke, 
As  if  he  had  been  all  on  fire. 

19.  O  then  into  fury  the  stranger  he  grew, 

And  gave  him  a  damnable  look, 
And  with  it  a  blow  that  laid  him  full  low, 
And  tumbled  him  into  the  brook. 

20.  "I  prithee,  good  fellow,  O  where  art  thou  now?" 

The  stranger,  in  laughter,  he  cry'd; 
Quoth  bold  Robin  Hood,  "Good  faith,  in  the  flood, 
And  floating  along  with  the  tide. 

21.  "I  needs  must  acknowledge  thou  art  a  brave  soul; 

With  thee  I  '11  no  longer  contend ; 
For  needs  must  I  say,  thou  hast  got  the  day, 
Our  battel  shall  be  at  an  end." 

22.  Then  unto  the  bank  he  did  presently  wade, 

And  pulld  himself  out  by  a  thorn; 
Which  done,  at  the  last,  he  blowd  a  loud  blast 
Straitway  on  his  fine  bugle-horn. 

23 .  The  echo  of  which  through  the  vallies  did  fly, 

At  which  his  stout  bowmen  appeard, 


anb  %te  jWerrp  jtten  247 

All  clothed  in  green,  most  gay  to  be  seen; 
So  up  to  their  master  they  steerd. 

24.  "O  what's  the  matter?"  quoth  William  Stutely; 

"Good  master,  you  are  wet  to  the  skin" : 
"No  matter,"  quoth  he;  "the  lad  which  you  see, 
In  fighting,  hath  tumbled  me  in." 

25.  "He  shall  not  go  scot-free,"  the  others  reply 'd; 

So  strait  they  were  seizing  him  there, 
To  duck  him  likewise;  but  Robin  Hood  cried, 
"He  is  a  stout  fellow,  forbear. 

26.  "There's  no  one  shall  wrong  thee,  friend,  be  not 

afraid; 
These  bowmen  upon  me  do  wait ; 
There 's  threescore  and  nine ;  if  thou  wilt  be  mine, 
Thou  shalt  have  my  livery  strait. 

27.  "And  other  accoutrements  fit  for  a  man; 

Speak  up,  jolly  blade,  never  fear; 

I  '11  teach  you  also  the  use  of  the  bow, 

To  shoot  at  the  fat  fallow  deer." 

28.  "O  here  is  my  hand,"  the  stranger  reply'd, 

"  I  '11  serve  you  with  all  my  whole  heart; 
My  name  is  John  Little,  a  man  of  good  mettle ; 
Ne'er  doubt  me,  for  I  '11  play  my  part." 

29.  "His  name  shall  be  alterd,"  quoth  William  Stutely, 

"And  I  will  his  godfather  be; 
Prepare  then  a  feast,  and  none  of  the  least, 
For  we  will  be  merry,"  quoth  he. 


248  foofam  jjggjj 

30.  They  presently  fetchd  in  a  brace  of  fat  does, 

With  humming  strong  liquor  likewise ; 
They  lovd  what  was  good;  so,  in  the  greenwood, 
This  pretty  sweet  babe  they  baptize. 

3 1 .  He  was,  I  must  tell  you,  but  seven  foot  high, 

And,  may  be,  an  ell  in  the  waist; 
A  pretty  sweet  lad;  much  feasting  they  had; 
Bold  Robin  the  christning  gracd. 

32.  With  all  his  bowmen,  which  stood  in  a  ring, 

And  were  of  the  Notti[n]gham  breed; 
Brave  Stutely  comes  then,  with  seven  yeomen, 
And  did  in  this  manner  proceed. 

33.  "This  infant  was  called  John  Little,"  quoth  he, 

"Which  name  shall  be  changed  anon; 
The  words  we'll  transpose,  so  where-ever  he  goes, 
His  name  shall  be  calld  Little  John." 

34.  They  all  with  a  shout  made  the  elements  ring, 

So  soon  as  the  office  was  ore; 
To  feasting  they  went,  with  true  merriment, 
And  tippld  strong  liquor  gillore. 

35.  Then  Robin  he  took  the  pretty  sweet  babe, 

And  cloth 'd  him  from  top  to  the  toe 
In  garments  of  green,  most  gay  to  be  seen, 
And  gave  him  a  curious  long  bow. 

36.  "Thou  shalt  be  an  archer  as  well  as  the  best, 

And  range  in  the  greenwood  with  us ; 


attb  %ia  fflttty  Jfflen  249 

Where  we  '11  not  want  gold  nor  silver,  behold, 
While  bishops  have  ought  in  their  purse. 

37.  "We  live  here  like  squires,  or  lords  of  renown, 

Without  e'er  a  foot  of  free  land; 
We  feast  on  good  cheer,  with  wine,  ale,  and  beer, 
And  evry  thing  at  our  command." 

38.  Then  musick  and  dancing  did  finish  the  day; 

At  length,  when  the  sun  waxed  low, 
Then  all  the  whole  train  the  grove  did  refrain, 
And  unto  their  caves  they  did  go. 

39.  And  so  ever  after,  as  long  as  he  livd, 

Altho  he  was  proper  and  tall, 
Yet  nevertheless,  the  truth  to  express, 
Still  Little  John  they  did  him  call. 

The  Jolly  Pinder  of  Wakefield 

1.  In  Wakefield  there  lives  a  jolly  pinder, 

In  Wakefield,  all  on  a  green;  (bis) 

2.  "There  is  neither  knight  nor  squire,"   said   the 

pinder, 
"Nor  baron  that  is  so  bold,  (bis) 
Dare  make  a  trespass  on  the  town  of  Wakefield, 
But  his  pledge  goes  to  the  pinfold."  (bis) 

3.  All  this  beheard  three  witty  young  men, 

'T  was  Robin  Hood,  Scarlet,  and  John; 
With  that  they  spyed  the  jolly  pinder, 
As  he  sate  under  a  thorn. 


250  l\ob\n  goob 

4.  "Now  turn  again,  turn  again,"  said  the  pinder, 

"For  a  wrong  way  have  you  gone; 
For  you  have  forsaken  the  king  his  highway, 
And  made  a  path  over  the  corn." 

5 .  "  O  that  were  great  shame, ' '  said  jolly  Robin, 

"We  being  three,  and  thou  but  one": 
The  pinder  leapt  back  then  thirty  good  foot, 
'T  was  thirty  good  foot  and  one. 

6.  He  leaned  his  back  fast  unto  a  thorn, 

And  his  foot  unto  a  stone, 
And  there  he  fought  a  long  summer's  day, 

A  summer's  day  so  long, 
Till  that  their  swords,  on  their  broad  bucklers, 

Were  broken  fast  unto  their  hands. 


7.  "Hold  thy  hand,  hold  thy  hand,"  said  Robin  Hood, 

1 '  And  my  merry  men  every  one ; 
For  this  is  one  of  the  best  pinders 
That  ever  I  tryd  with  a  sword. 

8 .  "  And  wilt  thou  forsake  thy  pinder  his  craft, 

And  live  in  [the]  greenwood  with  me?" 


"At  Michaelmas  next  my  covnant  comes  out, 
When  every  man  gathers  his  fee; 

I  '11  take  my  blew  blade  all  in  my  hand, 
And  plod  to  the  greenwood  with  thee." 


attb  j»te  ffltxvp  Mm  251 

10.  "Hast  thou  either  meat  or  drink,"  said  Robin 
Hood, 
"For  my  merry  men  and  me?" 


11.  "I  have  both  bread  and  beef,"  said  the  pinder, 

"And  good  ale  of  the  best"; 
"And  that  is  meat  good  enough,"   said   Robin 
Hood, 
"For  such  unbidden  guest. 

12.  "O  wilt  thou  forsake  the  pinder  his  craft, 

And  go  to  the  greenwood  with  me? 
Thou  shalt  have  a  livery  twice  in  the  year, 
The  one  green,  the  other  brown  [shall  be]." 

13.  "If  Michaelmas  day  were  once  come  and  gone 

And  my  master  had  paid  me  my  fee, 
Then  would  I  set  as  little  by  him 
As  my  master  doth  set  by  me." 

Robin  Hood  and  Maid  Marian 

1.  A  bonny  fine  maid  of  a  noble  degree, 

With  a  hey  down  down  a  down  down 
Maid  Marian  calld  by  name, 
Did  live  in  the  North,  of  excellent  worth, 
For  she  was  a  gallant  dame. 

2.  For  favour  and  face,  and  beauty  most  rare, 

Queen  Hellen  shee  did  ex  cell; 
For  Marian  then  was  praisd  of  all  men 
That  did  in  the  country  dwell. 


252  Kolmt  i)oob 

3.  'T  was  neither  Rosamond  nor  Jane  Shore, 

Whose  beauty  was  clear  and  bright, 
That  could  surpass  this  country  lass, 
Beloved  of  lord  and  knight. 

4.  The  Earl  of  Huntington,  nobly  born, 

That  came  of  noble  blood, 
To  Marian  went,  with  a  good  intent, 
By  the  name  of  Robin  Hood. 

5.  With  kisses  sweet  their  red  lips  meet, 

For  shee  and  the  earl  did  agree; 
In  every  place,  they  kindly  imbrace, 
With  love  and  sweet  unity. 

6.  But  fortune  bearing  these  lovers  a  spight, 

That  soon  they  were  forced  to  part, 
To  the  merry  green  wood  then  went  Robin  Hood, 
With  a  sad  and  sorrowful  heart. 

7.  And  Marian,  poor  soul,  was  troubled  in  mind, 

For  the  absence  of  her  friend ; 
With  finger  in  eye,  shee  often  did  cry, 
And  his  person  did  much  commend. 

8.  Perplexed  and  vexed,  and  troubled  in  mind, 

Shee  drest  herself  like  a  page, 
And  ranged  the  wood  to  find  Robin  Hood, 
The  bravest  of  men  in  that  age. 

9.  With  quiver  and  bow,  sword,  buckler,  and  all, 

Thus  armed  was  Marian  most  bold, 


anb  %tg  jfWerrp  JWen  253 

Still  wandering  about  to  find  Robin  out, 
Whose  person  was  better  than  gold. 

10.  But  Robin  Hood,  hee  himself  had  disguis'd, 

And  Marian  was  strangely  attir'd, 
That  they  provd  foes,  and  so  fell  to  blowes, 
Whose  valour  bold  Robin  admir'd. 

11.  They  drew  out  their  swords,  and  to  cutting  they 

went, 
At  least  an  hour  or  more, 
That  the  blood  ran  apace  from  bold  Robin's  face, 
And  Marian  was  wounded  sore. 

12.  "O  hold  thy  hand,  hold  thy  hand,"  said  Robin 

Hood, 
"And  thou  shalt  be  one  of  my  string, 
To  range  in  the  wood  with  bold  Robin  Hood, 
To  hear  the  sweet  nightingale  sing." 

13.  When  Marian  did  hear  the  voice  of  her  love, 

Her  self  shee  did  quickly  discover, 
And  with  kisses  sweet  she  did  him  greet, 
Like  to  a  most  loyall  lover. 

14.  When  bold  Robin  Hood  his  Marian  did  see, 

Good  lord,  what  clipping  was  there ! 
With  kind  imb races  and  jobbing  of  faces, 
Providing  of  gallant  cheer. 

15.  For  Little  John  took  his  bow  in  his  hand, 

And  wandring  in  the  wood, 


254  l\obm  l)ooti 

To  kill  the  deer,  and  make  good  chear, 
For  Marian  and  Robin  Hood. 

1 6.  A  stately  banquet  the[y]  had  full  soon, 

All  in  a  shaded  bower, 
Where  venison  sweet  they  had  to  eat, 
And  were  merry  that  present  hour. 

17.  Great  flaggons  of  wine  were  set  on  the  board, 

And  merrily  they  drunk  round 
Their  boules  of  sack,  to  strengthen  the  back, 
Whilst  their  knees  did  touch  the  ground. 

18.  First  Robin  Hood  began  a  health, 

To  Marian  his  onely  dear, 
And  his  yeomen  all,  both  comly  and  tall, 
Did  quickly  bring  up  the  rear. 

19.  For  in  a  brave  vein  they  tost  off  the[ir]  bouls, 

Whilst  thus  they  did  remain, 

And  every  cup,  as  they  drunk  up, 

They  filled  with  speed  again. 

20.  At  last  they  ended  their  merryment, 

And  went  to  walk  in  the  wood, 
Where  Little  John  and  Maid  Marian 
Attended  on  bold  Robin  Hood. 

21.  In  sollid  content  together  they  liv'd, 

With  all  their  yeomen  gay; 
They  liv'd  by  their  hands,  without  any  lands, 
And  so  they  did  many  a  day. 


attb  gtg  Jtterrp  Jfflett  255 

22.  But  now  to  conclude,  an  end  I  will  make 
In  time,  as  I  think  it  good, 
For  the  people  that  dwell  in  the  North  can  tell 
Of  Marian  and  bold  Robin  Hood. 

Robin  Hood  and  the  Curtal  Friar 

1.  In  summer-time,  when  leaves  grow  green, 

And  flowers  are  fresh  and  gay, 
Robin  Hood  and  his  merry  men 
Were  disposed  to  play. 

2.  Then  some  would  leap,  and  some  would  run, 

And  some  would  use  artillery: 
"Which  of  you  can  a  good  bow  draw, 
A  good  archer  to  be  ? 

3.  "Which  of  you  can  kill  a  buck? 

Or  who  can  kill  a  do  ? 
Or  who  can  kill  a  hart  of  greece, 
Five  hundred  foot  him  fro?" 

4.  Will  Scadlock  he  killd  a  buck, 

And  Midge  he  killd  a  do, 
And  Little  John  killd  a  hart  of  greece, 
Five  hundred  foot  him  fro. 

5.  "God's  blessing  on  thy  heart,"  said  Robin  Hood, 

"That  hath  [shot]  such  a  shot  for  me; 
I  would  ride  my  horse  an  hundred  miles, 
To  find©  one  could  match  with  thee," 


256  ftojnn  l)oob 

6.  That  causd  Will  Scadlock  to  laugh, 

He  laughed  full  heartily: 
"There  lives  a  curtal  frier  in  Fountains  Abby 
Will  beat  both  him  and  thee. 

7.  "That  curtal  frier  in  Fountains  Abby 

Well  can  a  strong  bow  draw; 
He  will  beat  you  and  your  yeomen, 
Set  them  all  on  a  row." 

8.  Robin  Hood  took  a  solemn  oath, 

It  was  by  Mary  free, 
That  he  would  neither  eat  nor  drink 
Till  the  frier  he  did  see. 

9.  Robin  Hood  put  on  his  harness  good, 

And  on  his  head  a  cap  of  steel, 
Broad  sword  and  buckler  by  his  side, 
And  they  became  him  weel. 

10.  He  took  his  bow  into  his  hand, 

It  was  made  of  a  lusty  tree, 
With  a  sheaf  of  arrows  at  his  belt, 
To  the  Fountains  Dale  went  he. 

1 1 .  And  comming  unto  Fountain^]  dale, 

No  further  would  he  ride; 
There  was  he  ware  of  a  curtal  frier, 
Walking  by  the  waterside. 

12.  The  fryer  had  on  a  harness  good, 

And  on  his  head  a  cap  of  steel, 


anb  j|tg  ffltxxy  Mm  257 

Broad  sword  and  buckler  by  his  side, 
And  they  became  him  weel. 

13.  Robin  Hood  lighted  off  his  horse, 

And  tied  him  to  a  thorn: 
"Carry  me  over  the  water,  thou  curtal  frier, 
Or  else  thy  life's  forlorn." 

14.  The  frier  took  Robin  Hood  on  his  back, 

Deep  water  he  did  bestride, 
And  spake  neither  good  word  nor  bad, 
Till  he  came  at  the  other  side. 

15.  Lightly  leapt  Robin  Hood  off  the  frier's  back; 

The  frier  said  to  him  again, 
"Carry  me  over  this  water,  fine  fello, 
Or  it  shall  breed  thy  pain." 

16.  Robin  Hood  took  the  frier  on's  back, 

Deep  water  he  did  bestride, 
And  spake  neither  good  word  nor  bad, 
Till  he  came  at  the  other  side. 

17.  Lightly  leapt  the  frier  off  Robin  Hood's  back; 

Robin  Hood  said  to  him  again, 
' '  Carry  me  over  this  water,  thou  curtal  frier, 
Or  it  shall  breed  thee  pain." 

18.  The  frier  took  Robin  Hood  on's  back  again, 

And  stept  up  to  the  knee ; 
Till  he  came  at  the  middle  stream, 
Neither  good  nor  bad  spake  he. 


258  foobttt    l)OOb 

19.  And  coming  to  the  middle  stream, 

There  he  threw  Robin  in : 
"And  chuse  thee,  chuse  thee,  fine  fellow, 
Whether  thou  wilt  sink  or  swim." 

20.  Robin  Hood  swam  to  a  bush  of  broom, 

The  frier  to  a  wicker  wand ; 
Bold  Robin  Hood  is  gone  to  shore, 
And  took  his  bow  in  hand. 

2 1 .  One  of  his  best  arrows  under  his  belt 

To  .the  frier  he  let  fly; 
The  curtal  frier  with  his  steel  buckler, 
He  put  that  arrow  by. 

22.  "Shoot  on,  shoot  on,  thou  fine  fellow, 

Shoot  on  as  thou  hast  begun; 
If  thou  shoot  here  a  summer's  day, 
Thy  mark  I  will  not  shun." 

23.  Robin  Hood  shot  passing  well, 

Till  his  arrows  all  were  gone; 
They  took  their  swords  and  steel  bucklers, 
And  fought  with  might  and  maine; 

24.  From  ten  o'  th'  clock  that  day, 

Till  four  i'  th'  afternoon; 
Then  Robin  Hood  came  to  his  knees, 
Of  the  frier  to  beg  a  boon. 

25.  "A  boon,  a  boon,  thou  curtal  frier, 

I  beg  it  on  my  knee ; 


anb  j|tg  fflttty  Mm  259 

Give  me  leave  to  set  my  horn  to  my  mouth, 
And  to  blow  blasts  three." 

26.  "That  will  I  do,"  said  the  curtal  frier, 

"Of  thy  blasts  I  have  no  doubt; 
I  hope  thou'lt  blow  so  passing  well 
Till  both  thy  eyes  fall  out." 

27.  Robin  Hood  set  his  horn  to  his  mouth, 

He  blew  but  blasts  three; 
Half  a  hundred  yeomen,  with  bows  bent, 
Came  raking  over  the  lee. 

28.  "Whose  men  are  these,"  said  the  frier, 

"That  come  so  hastily?" 
"These  men  are  mine,"  said  Robin  Hood; 
"Frier,  what  is  that  to  thee?" 

29.  "A  boon,  a  boon,"  said  the  curtal  frier, 

"The  like  I  gave  to  thee; 
Give  me  leave  to  set  my  fist  to  my  mouth, 
And  to  whute  whutes  three." 

30.  "That  will  I  do,"  said  Robin  Hood, 

' '  Or  else  I  were  to  blame ; 
Three  whutes  in  a  frier's  fist 
Would  make  me  glad  and  fain." 

31.  The  frier  set  his  fist  to  his  mouth, 

And  whuted  whutes  three; 
Half  a  hundred  good  ban-dogs, 
Came  running  the  frier  unto. 

17 


260  £obm  l)oob 

32.  "  Here 's  for  every  man  of  thine  a  dog, 

And  I  myself  for  thee": 
"Nay  by  my  faith,"  quoth  Robin  Hood, 
"Frier,  that  may  not  be." 

33.  Two  dogs  at  once  to  Robin  Hood  did  go, 

The  one  behind,  the  other  before; 
Robin  Hood's  mantle  of  Lincoln  green 
Off  from  his  back  they  tore. 

34.  And  whether  his  men  shot  east  or  west, 

Or  they  shot  north  or  south, 
The  curtal  dogs,  so  taught  they  were, 
They  kept  their  arrows  in  their  mouth. 

35.  "Take  up  thy  dogs,"  said  Little  John, 

"Frier,  at  my  bidding  be"; 
"Whose  man  art  thou,"  said  the  curtal  frier, 
"Comes  here  to  prate  with  me? " 

36.  "I  am  Little  John,  Robin  Hood's  man, 

Frier,  I  will  not  lie; 
If  thou  take  not  up  thy  dogs  soon, 
I  'le  take  up  them  and  thee." 

37.  Little  John  had  a  bow  in  his  hand, 

He  shot  with  might  and  main; 
Soon  half  a  score  of  the  frier's  dogs 
Lay  dead  upon  the  plain. 

38.  "Hold  thy  hand,  good  fellow."  said  the  curtal  frier, 

"Thy  master  and  I  will  agree; 


anb  jMsi  ffltvvy  Mm  261 

And  we  will  have  new  orders  taken, 
With  all  the  haste  that  may  be." 

39.  "If  thou  wilt  forsake  fair  Fountains  Dale 

And  Fountains  Abby  free, 
Every  Sunday  throughout  the  year, 
A  noble  shall  be  thy  fee. 

40.  "And  every  holy  day  throuhout  the  year, 

Changed  shall  thy  garments  be, 
If  thou  wilt  go  to  fair  Nottingham, 
And  there  remain  with  me." 

41.  This  curtal  frier  had  kept  Fountains  Dale 

Seven  long  years  or  more ; 
There  was  neither  knight,  lord,  nor  earl 
Could  make  him  yield  before. 

Robin  Hood  Rescuing  the  Three  Squires 

1.  Bold  Robin  Hood  ranging  the  forest  all  round, 
The  forest  all  round  ranged  he; 
O  there  did  he  meet  with  a  gay  lady, 
She  came  weeping  along  the  highway. 


"What  weep  you  for  then?"  said  jolly  Robin, 

"I  prithee  come  tell  unto  me"; 
"Oh!  I  do  weep  for  my  three  sons, 

For  they  are  all  condemned  to  die." 


262  i\obm  l9oob 

3.  "What  have  they  done  then?"  said  jolly  Robin, 

"Come  tell  me  most  speedily"; 
"Oh!  it  is  for  killing  the  king's  fallow  deer, 
And  they  are  all  condemned  to  die." 

4.  "Get  you  home,  get  you  home,"  said  jolly  Robin, 

"Get  you  home  most  speedily, 
And  I  will  unto  fair  Nottingham  go, 
For  the  sake  of  the  squires  three." 

5.  Then  bold  Robin  Hood  for  Nottingham  goes, 

For  Nottingham  town  goes  he, 
O  there  did  he  meet  with  a  poor  beggar-man, 
He  came  creeping  along  the  highway. 

6.  "What  news,  what  news,  thou  old  beggar-man? 

What  news,  come  tell  unto  me": 
"O  there  is  weeping  and  wailing  in  fair  Notting- 
ham, 
For  the  death  of  the  squires  all  three." 

7.  This  beggar-man  had  a  coat  on  his  back, 

'T  was  neither  green,  yellow,  nor  red ; 
Bold  Robin  Hood  thought  't  was  no  disgrace 
To  be  in  a  beggar-man's  stead. 

8.  "Come,  pull  off  thy  coat,  you  old  beggar-man, 

And  you  shall  put  on  mine; 
And  forty  good  shillings  I  '11  give  thee  to  boot, 
Besides  brandy,  good  beer,  and  wine." 

9.  Bold  Robin  Hood  then  unto  Nottingham  came, 

Unto  Nottingham  town  came  he; 


anb  His  Mtxxy  Jtlen  263 

O  there  did  he  meet  with  great  master  sheriff 
And  likewise  the  squires  all  three. 

10.  "One  boon,  one  boon,"  says  jolly  Robin, 

"One  boon,  I  beg  on  my  knee; 
That,  as  for  the  deaths  of  these  three  squires, 
Their  hangman  I  may  be." 

11.  "Soon  granted,  soon  granted,"  says  great  master 

sheriff, 
"Soon  granted  unto  thee; 
And  you  shall  have  all  their  gay  clothing, 
Aye,  and  all  their  white  money." 

12.  "0  1  will  have  none  of  their  gay  clothing, 

Nor  none  of  their  white  money, 
But  I'll  have  three  blasts  on  my  bugle-horn, 
That  their  souls  to  heaven  may  flee." 

13.  Then  Robin  Hood  mounted  the  gallows  so  high, 

Where  he  blew  loud  and  shrill, 
Till  an  hundred  and  ten  of  Robin  Hood's  men 
They  came  marching  all  down  the  green  hill. 

14.  "Whose   men   are    they   all    these?"    says   great 

master  sheriff, 
"Whose  men  are  they?     Tell  unto  me" : 
"0  they  are  mine,  but  none  of  thine, 
And  they're  come  for  the  squires  all  three." 

15.  "O  take  them,  O  take  them!"  says  great  master 

sheriff, 
"O  take  them  along  with  thee; 


264  Kolnn  l)ooti 

For  there 's  never  a  man  in  all  Nottingham 
Can  do  the  like  of  thee." 

Robin  Hood  and  the  Prince  of  Aragon 

i.  Now  Robin  Hood,  Will  Scadlock,  and  Little  John 
Are  walking  over  the  plain, 
With  a  good  fat  buck  which  Will  Scadlock 
With  his  strong  bow  had  slain. 

2.  "Jog  on,  jog  on,"  cries  Robin  Hood, 

"The  day  it  runs  full  fast; 
For  though  my  nephew  me  a  breakfast  gave, 
I  have  not  yet  broke  my  fast. 

3.  "Then  to  yonder  lodge  let  us  take  our  way, 

I  think  it  wondrous  good, 
Where  my  nephew  by,  my  bold  yeomen 
Shall  be  welcomd  unto  the  green  wood." 

4.  With  that  he  took  the  bugle-horn, 

Full  well  he  could  it  blow; 
Straight  from  the  woods  came  marching  down 
One  hundred  tall  fellows  and  mo. 

5.  "Stand,  stand  to  your  arms!"  crys  Will  Scadlock, 

"  Lo !  the  enemies  are  within  ken" , 
With  that  Robin  Hood  he  laughed  aloud, 
Crys,  "They  are  my  bold  yeomen." 

6.  Who,  when  they  arriv'd  and  Robin  espy'd, 

Cry'd  "Master,  what  is  your  will? 


anb  gig  Jfflerrp  jfflen  265 

We  thought  you  had  in  danger  been, 
Your  horn  did  sound  so  shrill." 

7.  "Now  nay,  now  nay,"  quoth  Robin  Hood, 

"The  danger  is  past  and  gone; 
I  would  have  you  to  welcome  my  nephew  here, 
That  hath  paid  me  two  for  one." 

8.  In  feasting  and  sporting  they  passed  the  day, 

Till  Phcebus  sunk  into  the  deep; 
Then  each  one  to  his  quarters  hy'd, 
His  guard  there  for  to  keep. 

9.  Long  had  they  not  walked  within  the  green  wood, 

But  Robin  he  was  espy'd 
Of  a  beautiful  damsel  all  alone, 
That  on  a  black  palfrey  did  ride. 

10.  Her  riding-suit  was  of  sable  hew  black, 

Sypress  over  her  face, 
Through  which  her  rose-like  cheeks  did  blush, 
All  with  a  comely  grace. 

11.  "Come  tell  me  the  cause,  thou  pritty  one," 

Quoth  Robin,  "and  tell  me  aright, 
From  whence  thou  comest,  and  whither  thou  goest, 
All  in  this  mournful  plight." 

12.  "From  London  I  came,"  the  damsel  reply 'd, 

"From  London  upon  the  Thames, 
Which  circled  is,  O  grief  to  tell! 
Besieged  with  foreign  arms. 


266  Robin  %)oob 

13.  "By  the  proud  Prince  of  Aragon, 

Who  swears  by  his  martial  hand 
To  have  the  princess  for  his  spouse, 
Or  else  to  waste  this  land : 

14.  "Except  that  champions  can  be  found 

That  dare  fight  three  to  three, 
Against  the  prince  and  giants  twain, 
Most  horrid  for  to  see : 

15.  "Whose  grisly  looks,  and  eyes  like  brands. 

Strike  terror  where  they  come, 
With  serpents  hissing  on  their  helms, 
Instead  of  feathered  plume. 

16.  "The  princess  shall  be  the  victor's  prize, 

The  king  hath  vowd  and  said, 
And  he  that  shall  the  conquest  win 
Shall  have  her  to  his  bride. 

17.  "Now  we  are  four  damsels  sent  abroad, 

To  the  east,  west,  north,  and  south, 
To  try  whose  fortune  is  so  good 
To  find  these  champions  forth. 

18.  "But  all  in  vain  we  have  sought  about; 

Yet  none  so  bold  there  are 
That  dare  adventure  life  and  blood, 
To  free  a  lady  fair." 

19.  "When  is  the  day?"  quoth  Robin  Hood, 

"Tell  me  this  and  no  more"; 


anb  %tg  Jflerrp  Mm  267 

"On  Midsummer  next,"  the  damsel  said, 
"Which  is  June  the  twenty-four." 

20.  With  that  the  teares  tickled  down  her  cheeks, 

And  silent  was  her  tongue ; 
With  sighs  and  sobs  she  took  her  leave, 
Away  her  palfrey  sprung. 

21.  This  news  struck  Robin  to  the  heart, 

He  fell  down  on  the  grass; 
His  actions  and  his  troubled  mind 
Shewed  he  perplexed  was. 

22.  "Where  lies  your  grief?"  quoth  Will  Scadlock, 

"O  master,  tell  to  me; 
If  the  damsel's  eyes  have  pierced  your  heart, 
I'll  fetch  her  back  to  thee." 

23.  "Now  nay,  now  nay,"  quoth  Robin  Hood, 

' '  She  doth  not  cause  my  smart ; 
But  it  is  the  poor  distressed  princess 
That  wounds  me  to  the  heart. 

24.  "I  will  go  fight  the  giants  all 

To  set  the  lady  free": 
"The  devil  take  my  soul,"  quoth  Little  John, 
"If  I  part  with  thy  company." 

25.  "Must  I  stay  behind?"  quoth  Will  Scadlock; 

"No,  no,  that  must  not  be; 
I  'le  make  the  third  man  in  the  fight, 
So  we  shall  be  three  to  three." 


268  JA  01)111    l)00b 

26.  These  words  cheered  Robin  at  the  heart, 

Joy  shone  within  his  face ; 
Within  his  arms  he  hugged  them  both, 
And  kindly  did  embrace. 

27.  Quoth  he,  "We'll  put  on  mothly  gray, 

With  long  staves  in  our  hands, 
A  scrip  and  bottle  by  our  sides, 
As  come  from  the  Holy  Land. 

28.  "So  we  may  pass  along  the  highway; 

None  will  ask  from  whence  we  came, 
But  take  us  pilgrims  for  to  be, 
Or  else  some  holy  men." 

29.  Now  they  are  on  their  journey  gone, 

As  fast  as  they  may  speed, 
Yet  for  all  haste,  ere  they  arriv'd, 
The  princess  forth  was  led : 

30.  To  be  delivered  to  the  prince, 

Who  in  the  list  did  stand, 
Prepar'd  to  fight,  or  else  receive 
His  lady  by  the  hand. 

31.  With  that  he  walkt  about  the  lists, 

With  giants  by  his  side : 
"Bring  forth,"  said  he,  "your  champions, 
Or  bring  me  forth  my  bride. 

32.  "This  is  the  fourth  and  twentieth  day, 

The  day  prefixt  upon ; 


anb  ffite  jftlerrp  jWen  269 

Bring  forth  my  bride,  or  London  burns, 
I  swear  by  Acaron." 

33.  Then  cries  the  king,  and  queen  likewise, 

Both  weeping  as  they  speak, 
"Lo!  we  have  brought  our  daughter  dear, 
Whom  we  are  forced  to  forsake." 

34.  With  that  stept  out  bold  Robin  Hood, 

Crys,  "My  liege,  it  must  not  be  so; 
Such  beauty  as  the  fair  princess 
Is  not  for  a  tyrant's  mow." 

35.  The  prince  he  then  began  to  storm, 

Crys,  "Fool,  fanatick,  baboon! 
How  dares  thou  stop  my  valour's  prize  ? 
I'll  kill  thee  with  a  frown." 

36.  "Thou  tyrant  Turk,  thou  infidel," 

Thus  Robin  began  to  reply, 
"Thy  frowns  I  scorn;  lo!  here's  my  gage, 
And  thus  I  thee  defie. 

37.  "And  for  these  two  Goliaths  there, 

That  stand  on  either  side, 
Here  are  two  little  Davids  by, 
That  soon  can  tame  their  pride. ' ' 

38.  Then  did  the  king  for  armour  send, 

For  lances,  swords,  and  shields : 
And  thus  all  three  in  armour  bright 
Came  marching  to  the  field. 


270  &obm  jfoob 

39.  The  trumpets  began  to  sound  a  charge, 

Each  singled  out  his  man; 
Their  arms  in  pieces  soon  were  hewd, 
Blood  sprang  from  every  vain. 

40.  The  prince  he  reacht  Robin  a  blow — 

He  struck  with  might  and  main— 
Which  forcd  him  to  reel  about  the  field, 
As  though  he  had  been  slain. 

41.  "God-a-mercy,"  quoth  Robin,  "for  that  blow! 

The  quarrel  shall  soon  be  try'd; 
This  stroke  shall  shew  a  full  divorce 
Betwixt  thee  and  thy  bride." 

42.  So  from  his  shoulders  he's  cut  his  head, 

Which  on  the  ground  did  fall, 
And  grumbling  sore  at  Robin  Hood, 
To  be  so  dealt  withal. 

43 .  The  giants  then  began  to  rage, 

To  see  their  prince  lie  dead : 
"Thou's  be  the  next,"  quoth  Little  John, 
"Unless  thou  well  guard  thy  head." 

44.  With  that  his  faulchion  he  whirld  about — 

It  was  both  keen  and  sharp — 
He  clove  the  giant  to  the  belt, 
And  cut  in  twain  his  heart. 

45.  Will  Scadlock  well  had  playd  his  part, 

The  giant  he  had  brought  to  his  knee; 


anb  JM$  ffltxvp  Mm  271 

Quoth  he,  "The  devil  cannot  break  his  fast, 
Unless  he  have  you  all  three." 

46.  So  with  his  faulchion  he  run  him  through, 

A  deep  and  gashly  wound ; 
Who  damd  and  foamd,  cursd  and  blasphemd 
And  then  fell  to  the  ground. 

47.  Now  all  the  lists  with  cheers  were  filld, 

The  skies  they  did  resound, 
Which  brought  the  princess  to  herself, 
Who  was  fain  in  a  s wound. 

48.  The  king  and  queen  and  princess  fair 

Came  walking  to  the  place, 
And  gave  the  champions  many  thanks, 
And  did  them  further  grace. 

49.  "Tell  me,"  quoth  the  king,  "whence  you  are, 

That  thus  disguised  came, 
Whose  valour  speaks  that  noble  blood 
Doth  run  through  every  vain." 

50.  "A  boon,  a  boon,"  quoth  Robin  Hood, 

"On  my  knees  I  beg  and  crave" : 
"By  my  crown,"  quoth  the  king,  "I  grant; 
Ask  what,  and  thou  shalt  have." 

51.  "Then  pardon  I  beg  for  my  merry  men, 

Which  are  within  the  green  wood, 
For  Little  John,  and  Will  Scadlock, 
And  for  me,  bold  Robin  Hood." 


21*  i\obin  ji)oob 

52.  "Art  thou  Robin  Hood?"  then  quoth  the  king; 

"For  the  valour  you  have  shown, 
Your  pardons  I  doe  freely  grant, 
And  welcome  every  one. 

53.  "The  princess  I  promised  the  victor's  prize, 

She  cannot  have  you  all  three" : 
"She  shall  chuse,"  quoth  Robin;  saith  Little  John, 
"Then  little  share  falls  to  me." 

54.  Then  did  the  princess  view  all  three, 

With  a  comely  lovely  grace, 
Who  took  Will  Scadlock  by  the  hand, 
Quoth,  "Here  I  make  my  choice." 

55.  With  that  a  noble  lord  stept  forth, 

Of  Maxfield  earl  was  he, 
Who  lookt  Will  Scadlock  in  the  face, 
Then  wept  most  bitterly. 

56.  Quoth  he,  "I  had  a  son  like  thee, 

Whom  I  loved  wondrous  well ; 
But  he  is  gone,  or  rather  dead; 
His  name  is  Young  Gamwell." 

57.  Then  did  Will  Scadlock  fall  on  his  knees, 

Cries,  "Father!  father!  here, 
Here  kneels  your  son,  your  Young  Gamwell 
You  said  you  loved  so  dear." 

58.  But,  lord!  what  imbracing  and  kissing  was  there, 

When  all  these  friends  were  met ! 


anb  %te  Mttvy  Mm  273 

They  are  gone  to  the  wedding,  and  so  to  bedding, 
And  so  I  bid  you  good  night. 

The  Noble  Fisherman 

1.  In  summer  time,  when  leaves  grow  green, 

When  they  doe  grow  both  green  and  long, 
Of  a  bould  outlaw,  called  Robin  Hood, 
It  is  of  him  I  sing  this  song. 

2.  When  the  lilly  leafe  and  the  elephant 

Doth  bud  and  spring  with  a  merry  good  cheere, 
This  outlaw  was  weary  of  the  wood-side, 
And  chasing  of  the  fallow  deere. 

3.  "  The  fisherman  brave  more  mony  have 

Then  any  merchant,  two  or  three; 
Therefore  I  will  to  Scarborough  goe, 
That  I  a  fisherman  brave  may  be." 

4.  This  outlaw  calld  his  merry  men  all, 

As  they  sate  under  the  green -wood  tree ; 
"If  any  of  you  have  gold  to  spend, 
I  pray  you  heartily  spend  it  with  me. 

5.  "Now,"  quoth  Robbin,  "lie  to  Scarborough  goe, 

It  seems  to  be  a  very  faire  day"; 
Who  tooke  up  his  inne  at  a  widdow-woman's  house, 
Hard  by  upon  the  water  gray. 

6.  Who  asked  of  him,  "Where  wert  thou  borne? 

Or  tell  to  me,  where  dost  thou  fare?" 


274  JAOlltn  iPooip 

"I  am  a  poore  fisherman,"  said  he  then 
"This  day  intrapped  all  in  care." 

7.  "What  is  thy  name,  thou  fine  fellow? 

I  pray  thee  heartily  tell  to  me"; 
"In  mine  own  country  where  I  was  born, 
Men  called  me  Simon  over  the  Lee." 

8.  "Simon,  Simon,"  said  the  good  wife, 

"I  wish  though  maist  well  brook  thy  name"; 
The  outlaw  was  ware  of  her  courtesie, 
And  rejoyed  he  had  got  such  a  dame. 

9.  "Simon,  wilt  thou  be  my  man? 

And  good  round  wages  I'le  give  thee- 
I  have  as  good  a  ship  of  mine  owne 
As  any  sayle  upon  the  sea. 

10.  "Anchors  and  planks  thou  shalt  want  none. 

Masts  and  ropes  that  are  so  long"; 
"And  if  that  you  thus  furnish  me," 
Said  Simon,  "nothing  shall  goe  wrong." 

11.  They  pluck t  up  anchor,  and  away  did  sayle, 

More  of  a  day,  than  two  or  three ; 

When  others  cast  in  their  baited  hooks, 

The  bare  lines  into  the  sea  cast  he. 

12.  "It  will  be  long,"  said  the  master  then, 

' '  Ere  this  great  lubber  do  thrive  on  the  sea ; 
I  '11  assure  you  he  shall  have  no  part  of  our  fish, 
For  in  truth  he  is  of  no  part  worthy." 


anb  j|tg  fflivvy  jfflen  275 

13.  "O  woe  is  me,"  said  Simon  then, 

"This  day  that  ever  I  came  here! 
I  wish  I  were  in  Plomton  Parke, 
In  chasing  of  the  fallow  deere. 

14.  "For  every  clowne  laughs  me  to  scorne, 

And  they  by  me  set  nought  at  all ; 
If  I.  had  them  in  Plomton  Park, 
I  would  set  as  little  by  them  all. " 

15.  They  pluckt  up  anchor,  and  away  did  sayle, 

More  of  a  day  than  two  or  three; 
But  Simon  spied  a  ship  of  warre, 

That  sayld  towards  them  most  valourously. 

16.  "O  woe  is  me,"  said  the  master  then, 

"This  day  that  ever  I  was  borne! 
For  all  our  fish  we  have  got  to-day 
Is  every  bit  lost  and  forlorne. 

17.  "For  your  French  robbers  on  the  sea, 

They  will  not  spare  of  us  one  man, 
But  carry  us  to  the  coast  of  France, 
And  ligge  us  in  the  prison  strong." 

18.  But  Simon  said,  "Do  not  feare  them, 

Neither,  master,  take  you  no  care; 
Give  me  my  bent  bow  in  my  hand, 
And  never  a  Frenchman  will  I  spare." 

19.  "Hold  thy  peace,  thou  long  lubber, 

For  thou  art  nought  but  braggs  and  boast : 

18 


276  l\obu\  l)oob 

If  I  should  cast  thee  over-board, 
There  were  nothing  but  a  lubber  lost." 

2  o.  Simon  grew  angry  at  these  words, 
And  so  angry  then  was  he 
That  he  tooke  his  bent  bow  in  his  hand 
And  to  the  ship-hatch  goe  doth  he. 

21.  "Master,  tye  me  to  the  mast,"  saith  he, 

"That  at  my  mark  I  may  stand  fair, 

And  give  me  my  bended  bow  in  my  hand, 

And  never  a  Frenchman  will  I  spare." 

22.  He  drew  his  arrow  to  the  very  head, 

And  drew  it  with  all  might  and  maine, 
And  straightway,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye 
Doth  the  Frenchman's  heart  the  arrow  gain. 

23.  The  Frenchman  fell  downe  on  the  ship-hatch, 

And  under  the  hatches  down  below ; 
Another  Frenchman  that  him  espy'd 
The  dead  corps  into  the  sea  doth  throw. 

24.  "O  master,  loose  me  from  the  mast,"  he  said, 

"And  for  them  all  take  you  no  care, 
And  give  me  my  bent  bow  in  my  hand, 
And  never  a  Frenchman  will  I  spare." 

25.  Then  streight  [they]  did  board  the  Frenchmans 

ship, 
They  lying  all  dead  in  their  sight; 
They  found  within  the  ship  of  warre 

Twelve  thousand  pound  of  money  bright. 


anb  j|tg  Mtvty  Mm  277 

26.  "The  one  halfe  of  the  ship,"  said  Simon  then, 

" I 'le  give  to  my  dame  and  children  small; 
The  other  halfe  of  the  ship  I  'le  bestow 
On  you  that  are  my  fellows  all." 

27.  But  now  bespake  the  master  then, 

"For  so,  Simon,  it  shall  not  be; 
For  you  have  won  her  with  your  own  hand, 
And  the  owner  of  it  you  shall  bee." 

28.  "It  shall  be  so,  as  I  have  said; 

And,  with  this  gold,  for  the  opprest 
An  habitation  I  will  build, 

Where  they  shall  live  in  peace  and  rest." 

Robin  Hood  and  Allen-a-Dale 

1.  Come  listen  to  me,  you  gallants  so  free, 

All  you  that  loves  mirth  for  to  hear, 
And  I  will  you  tell  of  a  bold  outlaw, 
That  lived  in  Nottinghamshire,     (bis) 

2.  As  Robin  Hood  in  the  forrest  stood, 

All  under  the  green- wood  tree, 
There  was  he  ware  of  a  brave  young  man, 
As  fine  as  fine  might  be. 

3.  The  youngster  was  clothed  in  scarlet  red, 

In  scarlet  fine  and  gay, 
And  he  did  frisk  it  over  the  plain, 
And  chanted  a  roundelav. 


278  JAobm  iDoob 

4.  As  Robin  Hood  next  morning  stood, 
.   Amongst  the  leaves  so  gay, 

There  did  he  espy  the  same  young  man 
Come  drooping  along  the  way. 

5.  The  scarlet  he  wore  the  day  before, 

It  was  clean  cast  away; 
And  every  step  he  fetcht  a  sigh, 
"Alack  and  a  well  a  day!" 

6.  Then  stepped  forth  brave  Little  John, 

And  Nick  the  miller's  son, 
Which  made  the  young  man  bend  his  bow, 
When  as  he  see  them  come. 

7.  "Stand  off,  stand  off,"  the  young  man  said, 

"What  is  your  will  with  me?" 
"You  must  come  before  our  master  straight 
Under  yon  green-wood  tree." 

8.  And  when  he  came  bold  Robin  before, 

Robin  askt  him  courteously, 
"O  hast  thou  any  money  to  spare 
For  my  merry  men  and  me? " 

9.  "I  have  no  money,"  the  young  man  said, 

"But  five  shillings  and  a  ring; 
And  that  I  have  kept  this  seven  long  years, 
To  have  it  at  my  wedding. 

10.  "Yesterday  I  should  have  married  a  maid, 
But  she  is  now  from  me  tane, 


anb  j|tg  Jflerrp  jUlen  279 

And  chosen  to  be  an  old  knight's  delight, 
Whereby  my  poor  heart  is  slain." 

ii.  "What  is  thy  name?"  then  said  Robin  Hood, 
"Come  tell  me,  without  any  fail": 
"By  the  faith  of  my  body,"  then  said  the  young 
man. 
"My  name  it  is  Allen-a-Dale." 

12.  "What  wilt  though  give  me,"  said  Robin  Hood, 

"In  ready  gold  or  fee, 
To  help  thee  to  thy  true-love  again, 
And  deliver  her  unto  thee  ? " 

13.  "I  have  no  money,"  then  quoth  the  young  man, 

"No  ready  gold  nor  fee, 
But  I  will  swear  upon  a  book 
Thy  true  servant  for  to  be." 

14.  "How  many  miles  is- to  thy  true-love? 

Come  tell  me  without  any  guile" : 
"By  the  faith  of  my  body,"  then  said  the  young 
man, 
"It  is  but  five  little  mile." 

15.  Then  Robin  he  hasted  over  the  plain, 

He  did  neither  stint  nor  lin, 
Until  he  came  unto  the  church 

here  Allen  should  keep  his  wedding. 

16.  "What  dost  thou  do  here?"  the  bishop  he  said, 

"I  prethee,  now  tell  to  me": 


280  3A o tun  Il)oob 

"  I  am  a  bold  harper,"  quoth  Robin  Hood, 
"And  the  best  in  the  north  country." 

17.  "O  welcome,  O  welcome,"  the  bishope  he  said 

"That  musick  best  pleaseth  me"; 
"You  shall  have  no  musick,"  quoth  Robin  Hood, 
'.'Till  the  bride  and  the  bridegroom  I  see." 

18.  With  that  came  in  a  wealthy  knight, 

Which  was  both  grave  and  old, 
And  after  him  a  finikin  lass, 
Did  shine  like  glistering  gold. 

19.  "This  is  no  fit  match,"  quoth  bold  Robin  Hood, 

' '  That  you  do  seem  to  make  here ; 
For  since  we  are  come  unto  the  church, 
The  bride  she  shall  chuse  her  own  dear." 

20.  Then  Robin  Hood  put  his  horn  to  his  mouth, 

And  blew  blasts  two  or  three ; 
Wnen  four  and  twenty  bowmen  bold 
Came  leaping  over  the  lea. 

21.  And  when  they  came  into  the  church-yard, 

Marching  all  on  a  row, 
The  first  man  was  Allen-a-Dale, 
To  give  bold  Robin  his  bow. 

22.  "This  is  thy  true-love,"  Robin  he  said, 

"Young  Allen,  as  I  hear  say; 
And  you  shall  be  married  at  this  same  time, 
Before  we  depart  away." 


anb  %tg  Jflerrp  jWen  281 

23.  "That  shall  not  be,"  the  bishop  he  said, 

"For  thy  word  shall  not  stand; 
They  shall  be  three  times  askt  in  the  church, 
As  the  law  is  in  the  land." 

24.  Robin  Hood  pulld  off  the  bishops  coat, 

And  put  it  upon  Little  John ; 
"By  the  faith  of  my  body,"  then  Robin  said, 
"This  cloath  doth  make  the  a  man." 

25.  When  Little  John  went  into  the  quire, 

The  people  began  for  to  laugh ; 
He  askt  them  seven  times  in  the  church, 
Least  three  times  should  not  be  enough: 

26.  "Who  gives  me  this  maid,"  then  said  Little  John; 

Quoth  Robin,  "That  do  I, 
And  he  that  doth  take  her  from  Allen-a-Dale 
Full  dearly  he  shall  her  buy." 

27.  And  thus  having  ended  this  merry  wedding, 

The  bride  lookt  as  fresh  as  a  queen, 
And  so  they  returned  to  the  merry  green  wood, 
Amongst  the  leaves  so  green. 

Robin  Hood's  Death  and  Burial 

1 .  When  Robin  Hood  and  Little  John 

Down  a  down  a  down  a  down 
Went  oer  yon  bank  of  broom, 

Said  Robin  Hood  bold  to  Little  John, 
"We  have  shot  for  many  a  pound." 

Hey,  down  a  derry  deny  down. 


282  £olmt  l)oob 

2.  But  I  am  not  able  to  shoot  one  shot  more, 

My  broad  arrows  will  not  flee; 
But  I  have  a  cousin  lives  down  below, 
Please  God,  she  will  bleed  me. 
Hey,  down  a  derry  derry  down. 

3.  Now  Robbin  he  is  to  fair  Kirkly  gone, 

As  fast  as  he  can  win ; 
But  before  he  came  there,  as  we  do  hear, 
He  was  taken  very  ill. 

4.  And  when  he  came  to  fair  Kirkly-hall, 

He  knocked  all  at  the  ring, 
But  none  was  so  ready  as  his  cousin  herself 
For  to  let  bold  Robin  in. 

5.  "Will   you   please   to   sit   down,    cousin   Robin," 

she  said, 
"And  drink  some  beer  with  me?" 
"No,  I  will  neither  eat  nor  drink, 
Till  I  am  blooded  by  thee." 

6.  '  Well,  I  have  a  room,  cousin  Robin,"  she  said, 

"Which  you  did  never  see, 
And  if  you  please  to  walk  therein, 
You  blooded  by  me  shall  be." 

7.  She  took  him  by  the  lilly- white  hand, 

And  led  him  to  a  private  room, 
And  there  she  blooded  bold  Robin  Hood, 
While  one  drop  of  blood  would  run  down. 


anb  %te  Mtxtp  Jfflen  283 

8.  She  blooded  him  in  a  vein  of  the  arm, 

And  locked  him  up  in  the  room ; 
Then  did  he  bleed  all  the  live-long  day, 
Until  the  next  day  at  noon. 

9.  He  then  bethought  him  of  a  casement  there, 

Thinking  for  to  get  down; 
But  was  so  weak  he  could  not  leap, 
He  could  not  get  him  down. 

10.  He  then  bethought  him  of  his  bugle-horn, 

Which  hung  low  down  to  his  knee; 
He  set  his  horn  unto  his  mouth, 
And  blew  out  weak  blasts  three. 

11.  Then  Little  John,  when  hearing  him, 

As  he  sat  under  a  tree, 
"I  fear  my  master  is  now  near  dead, 
He  blows  so  wearily." 

1 2 .  Then  Little  John  to  fair  Kirkly  is  gone, 

As  fast  as  he  can  dree; 
But  when  he  came  to  Kirkly-hall 
He  broke  locks  two  or  three; 

13.  Until  he  came  bold  Robin  to  see, 

Then  he  fell  on  his  knee; 
"A  boon,  a  boon,"  cried  Little  John, 
"  Master,  I  beg  of  thee."  :.:.:,■ ';  &  - 

14.  "What  is  that  boon,"  said  Robin  Hood,. 

"Little  John,  [thou]  begs  of  me?" 


284  JAObin  i)oob 

"It  is  to  burn  fair  Kirkly-hall, 
And  all  their  nunnery." 

15.  "Now  nay,  now  nay,''  quoth  Robin  Hood, 

"That  boon  I'll  not  grant  thee; 
I  never  hurt  woman  in  all  my  life, 
Nor  men  in  woman's  company. 

16.  "I  never  hurt  fair  maid  in  all  my  time, 

Nor  at  mine  end  shall  it  be; 
But  give  me  my  bent  bow  in  my  hand, 

And  a  broad  arrow  I  '11  let  flee 
And  where  this  arrow  is  taken  up, 

There  shall  my  grave  digged  be. 

17.  "  Lay  me  a  green  sod  under  my  head, 

And  another  at  my  feet ; 
And  lay  my  bent  bow  by  my  side, 

Which  was  my  music  sweet ; 
And  make  my  grave  of  gravel  and  green, 

Which  is  most  right  and  meet. 

18.  "Let  me  have  length  and  breadth  enough, 

With  a  green  sod  under  my  head ; 
That  they  may  say,  when  I  am  dead, 
Here  lies  bold  Robin  Hood." 

19.  These  words  they  readily  granted  him, 

Which  did  bold  Robin  please; 
And  there  they  buried  bold  Robin  Hood, 
Within  the  fair  Kirkleys. 


anb  %te  jffterrp  Mm  285 

20.  Thus  he  that  never  feared  bow  nor  spear 

Was  murdered  by  letting  blood; 
And  so,  loving  friends,  the  story  it  ends 
Of  valiant  Robin  Hood. 

2 1 .  There 's  nothing  remains  but  his  epitaph  now 

Which,  reader,  here  you  have, 
To  this  very  day  which  read  you  may, 

As  it  is  upon  his  grave, 
Hey  down  a  derry  derry  down. 


&obin  3|oob 


IT  has  been  the  writer's  object  in  these  stories 
to  follow  the  Robin  Hood  ballads  as  closely  as 
may  be.  In  the  interests  of  morality,  however,  it  has 
not  always  been  possible  to  preserve  the  proportion 
of  the  old  ballads  or  to  transcribe  them  without 
change.  For  example,  the  ballads  give  an  unfair 
view  of  the  clergy ;  if  they  do  not  make  theft  a  gracious 
act,  they  at  least  show  that  the  hero  is  too  prone  to 
take  the  law  into  his  own  hands.  For  these  reasons, 
only  one  story  is  given  where  Robin  Hood  robs  a  priest, 
and  then  he  does  it  in  the  interests  of  justice.  Other 
deviations  from  the  original  proportion  are  the  additions 
to  the .  Maid  Marian  story,  and  to  the  circumstances 
of  Robin's  banishment;  in  the  latter  case,  the  tradition 
is  followed  that  Robin  Hood  was  of  noble  birth.  (See 
Ritson's  Robin  Hood.)  There  are  also  a  few  slight 
alterations  in  incident  or  character  which  have  been 
made  for  the  sake  of  consistency  or  of  plot. 

A  good  deal  of  the  comedy  element  and  of  the 
fighting  has  been  kept  —  the  fighting  necessarily,  or  the 
Sherwood  Forest  flavor  would  have  been  lost.     The 


286 


anb  gjjg  JWerrp  JWen  287 

spontaneity  and  charm  of  the  outdoor  life  will,  it  is 
hoped,  appeal  more  readily  to  the  imagination  of 
children  because  of  the  introduction  of  the  old  English 
songs.  Most  of  them  are  taken  from  Chappell's  Old 
English  Popular  Music.  Good  additional  books  to 
consult  are  Ritson's  Ancient  Songs  and  Ballads,  and 
Rimbault's  Illustrations  of  the  Robin  Hood  Ballads. 

For  the  rest,  the  best  qualities  of  the  outlaws  have 
been  emphasized — their  sense  of  justice,  their  loyalty 
to  friends,  their  kindness  to  the  poor,  and  their  gentle- 
ness to  the  weak. 

Doubtless  the  teacher  will  see  that  the  children 
appreciate  the  points  of  the  story — the  moral,  the 
humor,  the  characters,  and  the  climaxes — by  asking 
questions;  but  she  can  make  them  realize  each  story 
better  if  she  allow  them  to  live  it  by  dramatizing  it. 
With  this  in  mind,  the  writer  has  taken  the  opportunity 
of  presenting  something  of  the  customs  and  manners 
of  the  chivalric  age.  The  teacher  can  make  the  ideas  of 
the  children  more  definite  by  consulting  Leon  Gau- 
tier's  Chivalry,  translated  by  Henry  Frith,  and  pub- 
lished by  Routledge.  It  is  a  concrete  and  scholarly 
history  of  chivalry,  copiously  illustrated.  Another 
good  book  is  Strutt's  Sports  and  Pastimes  of  the  English 
People,  which  has  full  descriptions  of  hawking,  hunting, 
wrestling,  and  games.  The  children  can  reproduce 
castles,  armor,  and  furniture  with  the  help  of  chalk, 
cardboard,  plaster,  and  a  sand  table.  Certain  of  the 
Robin  Hood  costumes  could  be  made  in  cheap  fabrics. 
In  this  connection,  the  excellent  pictures  in  Howard 
Pyle's  Robin  Hood  will  be  a  help. 


288  ftofttn    l)oob 

The  nine  ballads  given  are  taken  from  the  Child 
edition,  to  which  the  teacher  may  refer  those  pupils 
who  are  interested  enough  or  sufficiently  advanced  to 
wish  to  consult  some  original  sources.  They  are 
printed  without  change  except  the  fourth,  from  which 
stanzas  2,  3,5,  and  6  have  been  omitted  Words  which 
are  not  to  be  found  in  the  ordinary  dictionaries  will  be 
found  in  the  glossary.  For  good  accounts  of  the 
ballads,  the  teacher  should  consult  such  works  as 
Courthope's  History  of  English  Poetry;  Garnett  and 
Gosse's  History  of  English  Literature;  The  Cambridge 
History  of  English  Literature;  and  The  Dictionary  of 
National  Biography. 


anli  Sis;  ffltrvp  Jfflen 


® 


artillery.    Engines  for  discharging  missiles,  as  bows, 

slings,  etc. 
ban-dogs.    Large  dogs  in  a  band  or  else  tied  up. 
beshrewd.     Cursed. 
brook.     "I  wish  thou  maist  well  brook  thy  name":  do 

credit  to  it. 
b'w'ye.     Be  with  thee. 
clipping.     Embracing. 
curtal.     Short,  docked;    of  a  friar,   short-f rocked ;   of 

any  animal  that  has  lost  its  tail. 
discover.     Make  known. 
dru.    Do,  perform,     "as  fast  as  he  can  dru." 
elephant.    A  kind  of  flower;  a  species  of  scabious. 
finikin.    Dainty,  pretty. 
forlorne.    Lose. 

free.     Gracious,  liberal;  "by  Mary  free." 
fro.    From. 
frier.     Friar. 

gillore.     Galore,  in  abundance. 
greece.     Fat  and  fit  for  killing;  "a  hart  of  greece." 
harniss.    Armor. 


290  &obm  l)oob 

hew.    Color. 

hy'd.     Hied. 

ligge.     Lay. 

lin.     Cease,  leave  off. 

liquor.     Slang  for  thrash  or  beat;  "Liquor  thy  hide." 

mo.     More. 

mothly.     Motley;    "put    on    mothly    grey,"    put    on 

variegated  grey. 
mow.     Mouth;  thick  lips;  jests;  "such  beauty  is  not 

for  tyrant's  mow." 
palfrey.     A  woman's  saddle  horse. 
pinder.     An  officer  of  a  manor  having  the  duty  of 

impounding  stray  beasts. 
raking.     Moving    forward    rapidly;     "yeomen    came 

raking  o'er  the  lea." 
spight.     Spite. 
stint.     Stop. 

stiver.     Any  very  small  coin. 
strait.     Immediately. 
streight.     Straight. 
swound.     Swoon. 
sypress.      A    name     of     several     fabrics     originally 

imported    from    Cypress;    cloth    of    gold; 

satin;  "Sypress  over  her  face." 
tane.     Taken. 
treen.     Trees. 
whute.     Hoot. 
win.     Go. 


